Score: UC Davis 0, San Diego State 3
Location: Davis, Calif. (University Credit Union Center)
Records: UC Davis 1-3, San Diego State 3-1
DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis volleyball opened its 2026 home season against San Diego State on Thursday, Sept. 3. It was a back and forth slugfest through the first two sets but the Aggies would ultimately fall in three sets to the Aztecs.
FIRST SERVE
- For the second straight contest, Isabella Umpierre led the Aggie offensive attack, racking in 11 kills on the night.
- It was a freshman frenzy at the net, with Gianna Bogan being the other double-digit attacker with 10 kills.
- With 34 assists and 11 digs, Mia Starr led her team in assists and secured her first double-double of the season.
- Khloe Wong also had double-digit digs with 10, securing the number in her first career start.
- Defensively, the Aggies were effective on the block, collecting 17 in total.
- Ally Chandler served as the block leader, having four total for the second time this season.
WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY
"Credit to San Diego State, they came out and played very consistently and aggressively the entire night and they never let up. We weren't as consistent and eventually succumbed to the consistent pressure they put on. We need to get back in the gym and get better, but we have the talent to be a very good team this year."
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HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
- The first set was a back-and-forth slugfest. Following an early 4-1 lead by the Aztecs, the Aggies went 4-1 to tie at five early on.
- After seeing the road team be the first to 15, Allie Caldwell slammed one to the ground before Umpierre followed her up with another kill.
- As both clubs entered the 20-point threshold, Bogan gave her team their first lead at 23-22.
- A pair of kills by SDSU was the response, before Chandler put one down, extending the match to extra points at 26 apiece.
- Following that, the Aztecs shut the door on set one with back-to-back spikes by Layla Austin, winning 28-26.
- Set two saw similar action throughout the first 15 points, with both teams exchanging runs.
- Using a 4-0 and 3-0 run, San Diego State pulled ahead from the home team, sitting on the verge of another set win at a 24-18 advantage.
- Service from Rachel Dunagan gave the Aggies life with a 5-0 run, highlighted by a kill from Chandler followed by three straight blocks at the net.
- Following a timeout, the Aztecs got the edge on a long rally to win 25-23 and go up 2-0 in the match.
- Switching sides of the court, SDSU came out in set three with a 4-0 run to start.
- A kill from Starr and a block from Caldwell put their team on the board, but the Aztecs responded with another long run, scoring seven of nine.
- Down 7-14, the Aggies started to put together some offense, with a pair of kills from Brooke Hibino cutting into the lead and putting her team within striking distance.
- Another 4-0 scoring spree from the road team put them on the verge of 20, but it wouldn't deter the Aggies, who used a 7-1 run to come back within three, 19-22, late.
- The home team battled hard to the end, putting together long rallies against their opponent, but the final three points would go the way of the Aztecs, who won 25-19 and took the match 3-0.
UP NEXT: UC Davis finishes the weekend with a home match with RV Cal Poly, the team that knocked them out of the 2025 Big West Tournament, on Saturday, Sept. 5. First serve will be at 12:00 pm PT and will be streamed on MW+.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:Â
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.Â
For more information, visit
https://ucdavisaggies.com/.Â
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