DAVIS, Calif. — As his team gears up for its first season of Mountain West competition, UC Davis volleyball head coach Dan Conners has announced the hiring of former Fresno State Bulldog Grace Doyle as an assistant coach.

"We are thrilled to have Grace join our staff." Said Conners. "She was an elite middle blocker as a player, having led her team to a Mountain West championship. We're excited to see the impact that she can have with our team!"

In five years with the Bulldogs, Doyle served as the team's starting middle blocker, playing in 136 matches while collecting 408 block assists and 504 total blocks throughout her career, setting the school record in both statistical categories.

In addition to her defensive prowess, Doyle also had heavy contributions to the offensive side of the net, collecting over 300 kills in 2022 and '23 on her way to over 1,000 career kills. Her play on both sides of the net also helped lead Fresno State to win the 2023 Mountain West Championship, elevating the team to it's fifth NCAA tournament appearance in program history.

Off the court, Doyle was also strong in the classroom, landing on the All-Mountain West Academic Team every year from 2019-22 while also being named a Mountain West Scholar Athlete in 2020, '21, and '22. This blend of strong athletic and academic backgrounds makes Doyle a perfect fit for Davis.

Doyle graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor's degree in Forensic Behavioral Science in 2023 before earning a master's in Sports Administration in 2024.

"I am very excited to be here at UC Davis!" Doyle says. "I can't wait to start working with this staff and with these fantastic athletes. I am grateful to have been presented with this awesome opportunity and eager to get this upcoming season started!"

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/.