Score:  UC Davis 1, Long Beach State 3
Set Scores: 25-22, 15-25, 17-25, 16-25
Location: Davis, Calif. (University Credit Union Center)
Records: UC Davis 5-5 (0-1), Long Beach State 7-4 (1-0)
 
The short story: Junior Jade Light and senior Olivia Utterback each gave UC Davis volleyball double digit kills, but Long Beach State out lasted the Aggies in four sets to take the Big West opener.

FIRST SERVE

• Light finished with a Aggie-high 12 kills, hitting .296. She added three service aces and 10 digs
• Utterback smashed 11 kills, added two blocks and eight digs
• Sophomore Mia Starr's 33 assists ran the Aggie offense, and she added 11 digs and a pair of kills
• Senior Julia Ng finished with a match-high 16 digs

WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY
"We didn't have the best plan for their service, and I take responsibility for that. We lost the serve and pass battle tonight, so it will be key to game plan for that better before we face them again. Wins and losses are all part of the journey, and you have to move on quickly and get ready for the next. So we will be ready for UC San Diego on Saturday."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UC Davis attempted to pull away early in the set, and nearly did but down the stretch Long Beach State tied things up and at 21-21the first set finish was on center stage
• Sophomore Allie Caldwell smashed a kill home on a set by Starr to make it 24-22
• Starr then took service and when Long Beach State attacked to stay alive Caldwell and Utterback where there to deny the Beach and lock up a 25-22 Aggie first-set victory
• Long Beach State opened the second set and took a quick 10-4 lead in the opening 15 points decided
• And despite timeouts called by head coach Dan Conners, Long Beach State finished off a 25-15 second set victory to tie it at 1-1
• Again, early in the third set Long Beach State pulled away and midway through had a 17-10 lead
• The Beach gained their lead on long stretches of service held in both the second and third sets
• Long Beach State took the third set with a 25-17 victory, heading into the fourth set with a 2-1 advantage
• The Aggies came out on fire to open the fourth, looking to extend things to a fifth and deciding set
• On a pair of Light service aces and two Utterback kills, UC Davis opened the fourth set on a 5-0 run
• But Long Beach State got back into the set and after both sides traded points into the halfway part of the set, the Beach began to pull away
• Over the final seven points, Long Beach State scored five to come away with a 25-16 fourth set win and a 3-1 victory in the match 

UP NEXT: The Aggies remain at the University Credit Union Center when UC San Diego comes to Davis on Sat., Sept. 28 for a 1 p.m. Big West showdown.
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