Score: UC Davis 1, UTEP 3
Set Scores: (25-23, 18-25, 22-25, 24-26)
Location: Sacramento, Calif. (The Nest)
Records: UC Davis 1-2, UTEP 3-0
  
The short story: Victoria Vanos led the offense with 16 kills for UC Davis volleyball. The team fought hard but ultimately fell in four sets to the UTEP Miners on Sunday, Aug. 31.
 
FIRST SERVE

• Jade Light was named to the Sacramento State Invitational All-Tournament team. 
• Through 11 sets during the weekend, she led the team with 52 kills, 35 digs, and two service aces.
• Vanos' 16 kills mark a career-high for the senior, who increased her point count through every match played this weekend.
• Mia Starr was the lead distributor once again for the Aggies, dishing out 37 assists while also digging seven balls.
• Laela Burgess saw her first collegiate action, playing in one set and dishing two assists.
• Ally Chandler and Allie Caldwell protected the net, with Caldwell getting seven total blocks (three solo, four assists) and Chandler collecting six (two solo, four assists)

WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY

"I'm disappointed with the outcome. I think this is a match we could win. We certainly showed competitiveness and had a great effort. We have to improve our tactical awareness and understanding. We also need to find more consistency in execution. This was a great tournament for us to get tested against very high-level opponents. We've got work to do, and I'm excited about our team's potential."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The first set was a battle for both teams, with Davis getting the upper hand early with a 7-3 lead.
• UTEP looked for a spark in their offense, but kills from Light and Vanos kept their team ahead 14-8 at the halfway point of the frame.
• From there, the Miners began to trade scoring runs with the Aggies, using a 4-0 run to get as close as two before a 3-0 run from Davis pushed them back up four, 18-14.
• With the score tied at 23, the Aggies took advantage of errors from their opponent along with points from Starr and Light to take the first 25-23.
• In the second, UTEP came out fast, scoring 10 of the set's first 13 points.
• Using kills from Light and Chandler, UC Davis looked to get back in it, getting as close as five.
• After a 3-0 run from UTEP that put them up 20-12, the Ags capitalized on a 3-0 run and five of six to get back within four, 17-21.
• But that was as close as they would get, with UTEP scoring four of the last five to take set two 25-18 and even up the match at one apiece.
• After their competitors jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the third, the Aggies used the serving of Haden Bones to score four straight and take an 8-7 advantage.
• As both teams battled through the frame, the offense of Vanos, Light, and Breeze Czapinski kept things rolling for Davis.
• With the score tied at 22, the Aggies fought through long rallies to try and take the set, but it wouldn't be enough as the Miners would claim the third and a 2-1 lead.
• Set number four started similarly to the first, with both teams battling back and forth.
• After a 5-0 run from UTEP gave them a two-point lead, Davis responded with a 4-0 run of their own, taking the lead back.
• With the score tied at 20, Czapinski and Vanos carried the team offense once again.
• But the Miners wouldn't back down, matching each Aggie point with one of their own.
• Tied at 24, each team battled hard, but the day would go to UTEP, who claimed the match's final two points to win the set 26-24 and the match 3-1.

UP NEXT: The Aggies hop on a plane for another preseason tournament when they participate in the Wisconsin Invitational from Thursday, Sept. 4, to Friday, Sept. 5. Action will begin against host school Wisconsin on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. PT before wrapping up the next day against Green Bay at 2:00 p.m. PT.
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