Teams: UC Davis vs. Pacific
Records: Aggies, 16-12 (7-8); Tigers, 17-11 (8-7)
Where: The Pavilion
When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Who to watch: Senior Melanie Adams will have a pretty emotional Saturday night.
The outside hitter will be playing her last game in an Aggie uniform at home against Pacific. The El Dorado Hills, Calif. native has been a steady force for UC Davis on the outside all season as she is close to the team lead in kills, hitting percentage, aces, digs and blocks.
Did you know? The two seniors on the Aggie roster, Adams and Kayla Varney, have played in 213 combined matches over their four years at UC Davis.
Preview: Entering the final game of the season on Saturday, both UC Davis and Pacific will be eliminated from winning the Big West Conference.
Both squads are almost surely eliminated from post-season contention as well.
Yet there is still so much to play for.
The Aggies will be honoring seniors Kayla Varney and Melanie Adams for Senior Night on Saturday, and coach Jamie Holmes wants to send the duo off with a win.
“There’s so much excitement entering Saturday’s match,” Holmes said. “We’re jacked and can’t wait to play Pacific at our place for one last time.”
Holmes wants to make sure Adams and Varney get the recognition they deserve.
In the duo’s first season at UC Davis, the Aggies won four matches all year – they have an opportunity to win 17 in Adams and Varney’s final year.
“I’m so proud of our seniors and their journey at UC Davis,” Holmes said. “These kids laid it out there and have gone through the all the emotional roller coasters. Senior night really hits home because it might be their last time on a competitive team.”
As much as Holmes wants the night to be about Adams and Varney, there is still a game to be played.
The Aggies sit one game under .500 in Big West play and Holmes would like to see them go back to even in league.
“It’s certainly important to get back to .500,” Holmes said. “There is so much to play for entering our last game and for no other reason than pride.
“If anything we should play for pride. Pacific is right up the street and we want to play hard to make a statement in conference and set precedents for next season.”
– Jason Alpert
