UC Davis Athletics

Score: UC Davis 3, Arizona State 1
Location: Tempe, Ariz. (Desert Financial Arena)
Records: UC Davis 3-3, Arizona State 5-2

TEMPE, Ariz. — In what was the biggest win in program history, UC Davis volleyball beat No. 7 Arizona State on the road in four sets to begin the Synder-Park Classic on Thursday, Sept. 10.

FIRST SERVE

• Tonight's win gives ASU just their third home loss since 2023.
• Isabella Umpierre continued to rally the offense with a team-high 17 kills.
• Brooke Hibino also had another fantastic offensive performance with 14 kills of her own.
• Ally Chandler rounded out the double-digit attackers with 10.
• It was a block party all night for the Aggies, who collected two solo blocks and 24 assisted blocks for 26 total on the night.
• Allie Caldwell led the way in front of the net with seven total rejections, followed closely by Chandler and Mia Starr with six.
• Starr also contributed on the offense with 43 assists, also digging up 10 balls for a double-double.
• Ximena Cordero Barr served as the defensive leader with 14 digs.

WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY

"Proud of the group and their efforts tonight. We played with Aggie Pride and a relentless competitive energy!"

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Aggies established control early with Caldwell getting the spike for the first of three points to begin set one.
• As they built to a 7-2 lead, ASU began to rally back on a balanced attack to stay within two.
• But Davis was the first to 15, building on a 4-0 run on service from Cordero Barr before a kill from Umpierre put them up 15-9 halfway through the frame.
• After a 5-1 run from the Sun Devils positioned them within striking distance, the Aggies followed with a run of their own to go up 22-15.
• Looking to close it out, the Ags saw the home team shut the door on potential points before kills by Umpierre and Chandler closed the door with a 25-19 set one win.
• Set number two began much closer, with both teams exchanging blows to begin the frame to see Arizona State sit 9-7.
• The slim lead from the Devils wouldn't last, as Khloe Wong would go on the serve for a 4-0 run to take back the advantage for her team.
• Up 19-18 late in the frame, the offense would click on all cylinders as a pair of kills from Umpierre would put her team on the doorstep with a 24-19 lead.
• After a kill, an ASU serve would go long to give Davis a 25-20 win in the second, putting them up 2-0 in the match.
• Coming back onto the court, the Sun Devils would make a statement early with five of the first six points going their way.
• Four straight points capitalized by a block from Hibino and Starr would position the Aggies back within one.
• But the home team's lead would persist, as it would take a 5-1 scoring run from Davis to give them their first lead late, 21-18.
• ASU would flip the script after that, securing seven of the last eight to win 25-19 and extend the match to a fourth set.
• Unfettered, the Aggies would exchange runs with their opponent to begin set four, battling to an early 7-5 lead.
• Three straight from the home team would put them back in front, but ten of 12 by Davis was capitalized by three more Hibino kills, making them the first team to 15.
• The Sun Devils would then bounce back with five of six, but the Ags would slow the tempo to keep their opponent at arms reach heading into the final part of the frame.
• Up 24-21 and on the verge of victory, Gianna Bogan would take a swing from Starr to secure the point, giving her team a 25-21 set win and the highest ranked victory in program history.

UP NEXT: The Synder-Park Classic Continues tomorrow, Friday Sept. 11, when the Aggies play San Diego at 2:00 pm PT.

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 #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #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/.