DAVIS, Calif. — Following a long offseason, UC Davis beach volleyball is ready to return to the court to begin the 2026 season as they travel to Grand Canyon University to participate in the Canyon Classic on Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21. The Aggies will open against #11 Arizona State and Arizona on Friday before wrapping up the weekend against #5 TCU and Colorado Mesa the next day.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN/FOLLOW
Feb. 20  — vs. #11 Arizona State (@ 8:00 am) | Live Stats | @ucdavisbvb (X/Instagram)

Feb. 20  — vs. Arizona (@ 10:30 am) | Live Stats | @ucdavisbvb (X/Instagram)

Feb. 21  — vs. #5 TCU (@ 10:30 am) | Live Stats | @ucdavisbvb (X/Instagram)

Feb. 21  — vs. Colorado Mesa (@ 1:00 pm) | Live Stats | @ucdavisbvb (X/Instagram)


GAME NOTES

• High Level Competition: Entering the opening weekend of the season, UC Davis is set to play one of the toughest schedules in the country, playing two Top 20 teams in the country with #11 Arizona State and #5 TCU.
• 2025 Recap: The Aggies are coming off an 18-17 season a year ago, falling to Hawai'i in five sets in the first round of Big West Tournament bracket play.
• 2026 Preseason Poll: Ahead of the season, the Aggies were picked to finish fourth in the Big West preseason coaches poll, receiving 20 points.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

• Arizona State is coming off of an historic 2025 season, winning 22 games while placing second in the Big 12 and ending the season ranked #12 in the country.
• The Sun Devils are led by former AVCA All-American Samaya Morin, who paired with redshirt senior Ava Kirunchyk for a 3-1 record in the Big 12 Championship last season.
• UC Davis is 0-1 all-time against Arizona State.
• Arizona is coming off of an 18-12 season in 2025, losing in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament to Utah and Arizona State.
• The Wildcats include a number of high level returners from last season, including former 21 win freshman Madeline Walker.
• UC Davis is 0-4 all-time against Arizona.
• Reigning national champion TCU enters the season ranked fifth in the country.
• The Horned Frogs bring back a number of returners from their national championship team, including Big 12 Freshman of the Year Sofia Izuzquiza along with Big 12 Pair of the Year winner Anhelina Khmil.
• UC Davis is 0-4 all-time against TCU.
• Colorado Mesa is coming off of a program-best 21-win season in 2025, defeating five Division I opponents.
• No. 1 duo Ellie Ask and Gracyn Spresser return after posting a winning record a year ago.
• UC Davis has posted a 1-0 record against Colorado Mesa.

SEASON NOTES

• After an historic career with Hawai'i beach volleyball and becoming the all-time winningest coach at CSUN last season, Ari Homayun enters her first season as head coach for the Aggies in 2026.
• Joining her staff is former Redlands assistant coach Georgia Romine-Black, who spent three seasons with the Buccaneers, helping lead the team to their first NAIA championships for the first time in program history in 2021.
• Despite the loss of all-conference player Kylie Miller, the Aggies bring back a number of contributors from last season, including Skye Smolinski, Kate O'Steen, and Kimi Waller.
• Coach Homayun has also recruited a solid class of freshman and transfers, including former Matador Morgan Gillinger, former Roadrunner Ella Erteltova, and freshmen Reagan Cook, Savannah White, Elle Black, and Kaitlynn Chastain.
• With UC Davis making the move to the West Coast Conference in 2027, this season marks it's last in the Big West.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.