UC Davis Athletics

Score: UC Davis 3, Cal Poly 2
Location: Davis, Calif. (University Credit Union Center)
Records: UC Davis 2-3, Cal Poly 3-2

DAVIS, Calif. — In a rematch of last season's Big West Final, UC Davis volleyball came back from down 1-2 in the fourth set to knock off RV Cal Poly at home on Saturday, Sept. 5.

FIRST SERVE

• The offense was evenly distributed with four different players having double-digit kills. Brooke Hibino and Isabella Umpierre tied for the lead with 15 while Gianna Bogan was close behind with 14. Ally Chandler rounded out the group with 11.
• All of these attackers were set up by Mia Starr, who collected 48 assists on the afternoon. With 13 digs, she also had a double-double for the second straight contest.
• Ximena Cordero Barr was the defensive leader with 22 digs. Similar to the offense, the defense was also evenly distributed with three players in double-digit digs. Rachel Dunagan was the third with 16 in the match.
• On the net, three different players had three or more blocks. Hibino led the way with three solo blocks and one assist while Starr and Chandler were close behind with three blocking assists.
• As a team, the Aggies were efficient on the serve with five total aces.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Aggies started the match with wind under their sails, tacking off the first three points of the set off a pair of kills from Umpierre.
• As Cal Poly got on the board, Umpierre and Bogan held off a run with points to help build the lead to 14-8 halfway through the frame.
• A 4-1 run pulled the Mustangs into striking distance, but offense and defense from Hibino kept them at arms length before a kill from Allie Caldwell put her team in the final stretch of the set.
• Up 21-18, the Aggies saw Cal Poly claim three of four to get within one.
• On the service of Khloe Wong, Davis took the last three points of set one, winning 25-21.
• Both teams were evenly matched to begin set two, as the Mustangs held an early 6-5 lead.
• Four straight points would put them up five, but the Aggies would climb back in led by offense from Umpierre and Chandler.
• With Cal Poly up 23-15 late, Umpierre attempted to spark the offense for a late push, but the road team would win 25-18 and tie the match at one apiece.
• Set three began as a mirror reflection of the previous frame, as a back-and-forth affair would become a lead for Cal Poly, scoring six of seven to go up 11-5.
• A run capitalized by an ace from Cordero Barr would give Davis seven out of eight and put them within one, 14-15.
• With the Mustangs looking for a response, Starr would jump on the serve for a 4-0 run, giving her team the first lead of the set at 20-19.
• Both clubs would battle hard to the end of the set, but it would be Cal Poly coming out on top, winning 25-23 and taking a 2-1 lead.
• Down 11-16 halfway through set four, service from Umpierre would regroup the Aggies on a 3-0 run to put them within striking distance.
• Another scoring run from the Mustangs would give them back the five point lead, 20-15, before Hibino would lead her team to four straight points.
• A few scores later, Cal Poly would be up 23-20, looking to put it away for good.
• On the brink of defeat, the Aggies rallied around the service of Rachel Dunagan, who helped create kills for Hibino, Umpierre, and Caldwell.
• An ace from Dunagan herself would be the exclamation mark on the set, giving her team a 25-23 win and sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
• Using the momentum from the previous frame, Davis attacked set five early by taking advantage of Mustang errors and using a Hibino kill for a 7-3 lead.
• Following a timeout by Cal Poly, the team would regroup with a 5-0 run a few points later, putting them down just one, 9-10.
• Errors continued to pile up for the road team, as the Aggies would take advantage to hold their slim lead.
• Up 14-12 and looking to end it, Starr would set up Chandler for the spike to secure a 15-12 victory. Giving UC Davis yet another come from behind victory.

UP NEXT: The Aggies are back on the road next weekend for their third tournament of the preseason down in Tempe, Ariz. Action starts against the host team No. 7 Arizona State on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:00 pm PT. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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/.