Box Score Score: UC Davis 3, California 2
Set Scores: (20-25, 25-19, 25-22, 19-25, 15-11)
Location: Berkeley, Calif. (Haas Pavilion)
Records: UC Davis 4-4, California 3-5
  
The short story: Double-digit kills from Jade Light, Ally Chandler and Brooke Hibino led UC Davis volleyball to a five-set victory over the California Golden Bears on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The Aggies have now wrapped up non-conference play and turn their attention to The Big West.
 
FIRST SERVE

• 22 kills and 10 digs from Light gives her a fourth double-double in eight matches on the season, she also ties her season-high in total kills.
• Chandler and Demi Cole led the Aggie defense with seven total blocks each. Cole's seven blocks is marks a career-high for the sophomore.
• Mia Starr was excellent as both a setter and a blocker, putting up 43 assists while knocking down a season-best six balls.
• Rachel Dunagan contributed on crucial points in all five sets, pacing the Aggies with a team-high and career-best 16 digs on the night.
• Tonight marked the first Power 4 win for the Aggies in 2025, and their first win over Cal since 2021.
• This match was the first five-set contest for the Aggies this season.

WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY

"We faced quite a bit of adversity and challenge throughout this match. We switched to a lineup we have not played with before. I'm proud of the group for the way they fought and stayed together. Chandler and Light had great matches, both offensively and defensively for us, showing great leadership. Rachel Dunagan had a very solid match, passing, digging, and serving. The team showed a lot of grit to find a way to win."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Opening the match with the first point, Davis played from behind early with Cal taking an 8-4 lead.
• But Cole and Chandler began to attack, combining for four kills to help their team stay in it, down only 12-15 at the media break.
• Coming out of the timeout, the Golden Bears looked to pull away, going up by as much as five.
• Despite resilience from the road team, California would hold their lead all the way to the end of the set, winning 25-20.
• The second started similar to the first, with the home team taking an early 10-6 lead.
• But kills from Hibino sparked her teams offense, with an ace from Chandler leading them back to a 13-13 tie.
• From there, the Aggies were in the drivers seat, using two separate 3-0 runs and a 4-0 run to close things out. With a Dunagan ace and Light kill securing the 25-19 win to tie it at one apiece.
• Cal responded in the third, going back-and-forth with Davis and taking an 11-10 lead early.
• Defense led the way for the Aggies in frame, using blocks from Chandler, Starr, and Maike Bertens Deckart to go up by as much as four.
• With the Ags holding a 21-20 lead and the Golden Bears looking to respond, a kill from Haden Bones sparked her team as they would use errors from the opponent to win the third 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead.
• Set four was a game of runs, with a 5-0 California run being responded with a 6-0 Davis run to make it 12-10 for the road team.
• The Golden Bears refused to give up however, stringing together nine of 11 to go up 20-16 late.
• Despite earning points from three Cal attack errors, the Aggies would drop the fourth 25-19 to send the match to a decisive fifth set.
• After dropping three of the first four points, Davis went in front 4-3 with a double block from Cole and Starr.
• From there, the Aggies were in the driver seat, using two service aces from Starr to pace a 6-1 run to put them on the brink of victory, 10-5.
• After the third Dunagan ace made it 14-9 UC Davis, Cal threatened with two quick points to force a timeout.
• But a kill from Light ended all doubts as the Aggies would take a hard fought 15-11 and 3-2 win over the Golden Bears.

UP NEXT: UC Davis will begin Big West play on Tuesday, Sept. 23 when they travel to face the UC Riverside Highlanders on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The match will begin at 6:00 p.m. PT.