DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis beach volleyball had plenty to celebrate in a ceremony of their six graduating seniors on Saturday, Apr. 18, but would drop their final two regular season matches to Sacramento State and Santa Clara.

Score (Game One): UC Davis 2, Santa Clara 3
Records: UC Davis 15-18, Santa Clara 19-14
Score (Game Two): UC Davis 1, Sacramento State 4
Records: UC Davis 15-19, Sacramento State 14-15
Location: Davis, Calif. (UC Davis Beach Volleyball Courts)
 
THE RALLY

• Prior to the start of the match against Sacramento State, the program said thank you to its six departing seniors, Ella Erteltova, Kinley Lindhardt, Kimi Waller, Anna Braun, Emma Johnson, and Kate O'Steen in a special ceremony.
• The Aggies battled to the bitter end in multiple matchups throughout the day, using extras in the first flight against Santa Clara to force a third set before losing by only two.
• In the third and fifth flights against the Broncos, the Aggie duos easily dispatched their opponents. In the third, it was career win number 49 for O'Steen, putting her one away from the ever coveted 50th career win mark.
• Two sets went to extras in the first flight against the Hornets, with the Aggies falling just short in both.
• In her final regular season match as an Aggie, Johnson paired with Alexandra Leal to claim a victory with an 18-16 win in the third set.
• Nearly every match was back and forth against the Hornets, but a 1-4 loss would be the team's first against Sacramento State in program history.

RESULTS

UC Davis 2, Santa Clara 3

1. Sadie Snipes/Avery Cukjati (SCU) def. Kinley Lindhardt/Ella Erteltova (UCD) 21-17, 27-29, 15-13
2. Sammy Wood/Teagan Wilson (SCU) def. Kaitlyn Smyth/Shelby Santos (UCD) 21-16, 21-17
3. Skye Smolinski/Kate O'Steen (UCD) def. Anna Balsdon/Mandy Hansen (SCU) 21-12, 21-11
4. Alexandra Urbina/Ciara Cantlen (SCU) def. Emma Johnson/Alexandra Leal (UCD) 21-15, 21-10
5. Kendal Steller/Anna Braun (UCD) def. Tyler Parouse/Ava Stoddard (SCU) 21-18, 21-14

Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1

UC Davis 1, Sacramento State 4

1. Reese Ampi/Ashlynn Archer (SAC) def. Kinley Lindhardt/Ella Erteltova (UCD) 15-21, 23-21, 16-14
2. Victoria Marthaler/Aurora Bibolotti (SAC) def. Kaitlynn Chastain/Shelby Santos (UCD) 21-16, 21-16
3. Kate Doorn/Mia Guevara (SAC) def. Skye Smolinski/Kate O'Steen (UCD) 21-16, 21-18
4. Emma Johnson/Alexandra Leal (UCD) def. Greta Davis/Skyler Gartin (SAC) 21-12, 19-21, 18-16
5. Karlie Sophn/Abbey Kadillak (SAC) def. Kendal Steller/Anna Braun (UCD) 21-16, 21-16

Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1

UP NEXT: With the regular season wrapped up, the Aggies will now await their matchup at next week's Big West Championships hosted by Cal Poly. The seven team tournament will run from Thursday, Apr. 23 to Friday, Apr. 24.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, ranked No. 2 among public universities by the Wall Street Journal in the value of a college degree, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked top in the United States 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/.