UC Davis Athletics

Score: UC Davis 3, UNLV 1 (25-19, 13-25, 25-20, 35-33)
Location: Las Vegas, Nev. (The Pavilion)
Records: UC Davis 6-7 (2-0), UNLV 4-9 (0-2)

LAS VEGAS — A balanced offensive and defensive game from UC Davis volleyball gave the team a series sweep against the UNLV Rebels on Saturday, Sept. 26.

FIRST SERVE

• Brooke Hibino had a bounce back game with 18 kills to lead the Aggies. This statistical mark gives her double-digit kills for the eighth time this season.
• Ally Chandler was second on the team with 16 kills, reaching the mark while committing zero errors. It's the second time this season she's had zero errors and the fourth time she's hit over .500 in a match.
• For the second straight game and fifth time this year, Isabella Umpierre had a double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs.
• The fourth double-digit killer for Davis was Gianna Bogan, stepping up big with 10 kills.
• Mia Starr also had a double-double with 43 assists and 13 digs. 
• Starr also went over 900 career digs today, putting her less than 100 digs from becoming the first player in program history with 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs.
• For the second straight contest, the Aggie defense at the net was strong, collecting 18 total blocks. Allie Caldwell led the way with six blocks.

WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY

"The team came together around an identity of relentless serving pressure, relentless defensive pressure, and a level of determination that it takes to win against the best.  Mia and her connection with Ally Chandler was excellent in both matches and our passers and defenders did a great job adjusting and getting better as the match went so we had opportunities to set her. They left their hearts on the floor today. It was a very good win."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After the Rebels opened the contest with the first four points, Caldwell got her team on the board to spark a 5-1 run to tie things at five apiece early.
• Through the first half of the first, each team battled point-for-point. Ximena Cordero Barr dropped in a service ace to create a 13-11 advantage before UNLV struck back with two straight points.
• Up 18-17, the Aggies took control on a 4-0 run off of service from Chandler, leading to a 25-19 victory.
• Set two started very similarly to the first, with the Aggies responding to a UNLV service run with three straight points.
• However, the Rebels flipped the script from the previous set, going up by as much as 10 late.
• Hibino and Caldwell looked to give their team life with quick points, but UNLV would cruise to a 25-13 win and tie the match at one.
• Unfettered, UC Davis struck back in the third set with responses to each point from the home team. A kill from Bogan made them the first to 10 on the start of a 4-1 run.
• Three straight points a few moments later put Davis in prime positioning with a 17-12 lead, but the Rebels struck back with six straight, giving them a lead and forcing the road team into a timeout.
• Back out on the court, Starr used a service ace to power her team to another lead. The last two kills went to Umpierre, whose offense gave the Ags a 25-20 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Throughout set five, neither team was able to attain a bigger than two point lead. A kill from Chandler put her team up 25-24 before UNLV struck back with a point of their own, leading to free volleyball in extras.
• Both clubs hit match point multiple times throughout the extra period. The Rebels got the first one after going up 27-26 before Umpierre struck back with a kill.
• Down 32-33, Hibino went back-to-back on two clutch kills to set up match point. An attempt from the Rebels was then swatted down by Umpierre and Caldwell, securing a 35-33 victory and 3-1 win.

UP NEXT: UC Davis returns to the University Credit Union Center for the team's first ever Mountain West home game on Thursday, Oct. 1 in a matchup against Air Force. First serve will be at 6:00 pm PT and all of the action will be streamed on MW+.

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/.