It was a happy day for the UC Davis men’s tennis team at the Gael Classic last Saturday.

The Aggies pulled out some very hard-fought wins against the competition at the event. Head coach Daryl Lee was pleased with the results of his players. 

The doubles team of Nick Lopez and Toki Sherbakov topped second seed California before falling to San Francisco in the second round. In singles play, sophomore Connor Coates, junior Chris Aria and Sherbakov each had good singles performances.

All three topped their first-round opponents with Aria pulling off a comeback victory over against St. Mary’s Sharif Hamdy. Aria came back from a 2-7 deficit in the third set tiebreak to win the match.

A key to Aria’s comeback was his endurance. Lee believes this was also key to the Aggies’ success this weekend.  

“What was challenging about Saturday was that many players competed four times in one day,” Lee said. “We were at the courts for over 12 hours.” 

The format of the matches had to be modified to fit them all into one day due to threatening weather conditions. 

Above all, Lee was proud of how the Aggies conducted themselves throughout the matches. 

“Many players often find ways to lose a match, using their frustration as an excuse to give up,” he said. “We did well to stay focused and figure out how to pull through.” UC Davis will take a break until January when dual meets begin.

RON HOOPER can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Teams: UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara; at Cal Poly

Records: Aggies 16-10 (7-6); Gauchos 15-12 (8-5); Mustangs 19-7 (9-4)

Where: Thunderdome – Santa Barbara, Calif.; Robert A. Mott Gymnasium – San Luis Obispo, Calif.

When: Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 7 p.m.

Who to watch: Senior Kayla Varney is on pace to accomplish something few Aggies have ever done.

The Murrieta, Calif. native needs 58 digs over the Aggies’ final three matches to reach 500 in a season. Should Varney amass 500 digs, she will join Nichole Brown and Avreeta Singh as the only UC Davis players to do so.

The outside hitter/libero will need to average 19.6 digs per contest to reach the plateau. History is on Varney’s side as she totaled 63 digs in her previous three matchups against Pacific, Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara – the Aggies’ final three opponents for the season.

Did you know? It’s safe to say UC Davis’ game at Cal Poly will be in a hostile environment.

The Mustangs have averaged 1,048 people per Big West Conference home game. The highest attended Aggie home game this season was 856 against the same Mustangs.

Preview: It doesn’t get any easier for the Aggies from here.

One week after facing the top two teams in the Big West Conference, UC Davis will travel to face third place Cal Poly and fourth place UCSB.

Coach Jamie Holmes believes how well the Aggies do this weekend will come down to the offensive movement of the ball.

“This weekend will be determined on our ability to pass,” Holmes said. “We’ve been working on this at practice a lot this week. We need to be efficient on offense and not force as many errors.”

Unforced errors were a big factor in the Aggies’ two losses over the weekend. As a result, the Aggies are mathematically eliminated from winning an outright Big West title. UC Davis sits three and a half games out of first with just three games left on the year.

Even though the Aggies aren’t playing for a Big West banner, Holmes believes there is still plenty to compete for.

“We’re playing for pride, a winning record in conference play and to finish as strong as we possibly can,” Holmes said. “And I don’t want to eliminate this: we’re playing for our seniors, who have dedicated four years of their lives – their blood, sweat and tears – to success. We work hard and we definitely don’t want to be the dog that lays down and dies.”

– Jason Alpert

Only one goal remains for the UC Davis women’s basketball team – an NCAA tournament berth.

Last season the Aggies barely missed that feat, losing the Big West Conference Title game to UC Riverside by just four points.

This year, the preseason Big West media poll marked the Aggies as the favorites to win the conference title.

The Aggies know that being favored can make things more difficult.

“There’s a big target on our back,” said senior post Paige Mintun. “[The other teams in the Big West] want to come and get us.”

Despite all of their preseason accolades, UC Davis still has one major question to answer: how will they replace Haylee Donaghe?

Donaghe started every game for the Aggies last season and was the defensive leader for the team. In recognition of her stellar defense a season ago, Donaghe was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Year.

While she will no longer be on the floor for the Aggies, coach Sandy Simpson believes Donaghe’s influence will stay with the team.

“She’s left a legacy,” he said. “The way she played and how hard she worked modeled well for our younger players. Her impact is still being felt.”

One thing that will help offset the loss of Donaghe is the Aggies’ overall team depth.

Last year UC Davis had 11 players who averaged at least seven minutes per game.

This year, they could have an even better presence off the bench.

“I think we’re even deeper this year,” Mintun said. “We’re not going to have anyone who has to play 35 or 40 minutes. We won’t have any drop off when we make subs.”

UC Davis showed all of their depth in their exhibition game against San Francisco State last week.

The Aggies played 12 players, and shot 50 percent from the field in a 91-33 blowout of the Gators.

The game went better than Simpson could have imagined.

“Everything seemed to fall into place,” he said. “We just played great. It’s hard to believe we played that well right out of the blocks.”

Despite their great play in this game, the Aggies know they will face a much more serious test when they start their season in earnest this week, on the road against San Francisco.

The Aggies don’t know what to expect.

“We’re at a bit of a disadvantage,” Simpson said. “They have a new coach and we don’t really have any idea of what we’ll see from them. They’re returning 10 players so they’ll be a good challenge.”

Following Friday’s game, the Aggies will face a difficult home game against Washington State on Sunday.

“Any Pac-10 team is a challenge,” Simpson said. “Their pressure gave us some trouble last year, but this year we should be able to handle that better. We need to make sure we take care of the ball. We’ll be ready defensively.”

As in every year, UC Davis hopes that these games will be just the beginning of a journey that ends with an NCAA Tournament appearance.

This year, however, that goal holds a special significance.

Earlier this year, Simpson announced he will retire at the end of this season.

For Simpson, the idea of failing to make the NCAA Tournament has not entered his thought process.

“If we don’t make it we’ll be sorely disappointed,” he said, “but that’s not in our mindset right now.”

The UC Davis graduate has coached the team for 14 years and his players are hoping his career ends on a high note.

“He’s the definition of Aggie Pride and Aggie women’s basketball. To send him out on a high note is what we all want this season,” Mintun said. “[If we make the NCAA Tournament], I would cry.”

TREVOR CRAMER can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Teams: UC Davis vs. Fresno State
Record: Aggies, (5-2); Bulldogs, (1-3)
Where: Schaal Aquatics Center – Davis, Calif.
When: Saturday at 1p.m.
Who to Watch:  Though it is only Liliana Alvarez’s first quarter at UC Davis, the San Anselmo, Calif. native has made an immediate impact.

Alvarez came in first in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke in Sunday’s dual meet.

“She has an exciting outlook on things,” coach Barbara Jahn said. “Everything is fresh and new for her. She’s a really upbeat, hard worker.”

A dogged and competitive athlete, Alvarez pushes her teammates constantly.

“Lily is always challenging other breaststrokers,” Jahn said. “She and Morgan Lee had a really good run where they were both pushing each other.”

Did you know? Fresno State’s team was recently reinstated after it had been cut from the ICA program for over a decade. This means that at the Division I level of competition, they are a relatively new team. Coach Jahn said that their coach has done a good job of re-building Fresno State’s program.

“They are getting better each year,” Jahn said. “They have some quality swimmers.”

Preview: The Schaal Aquatics Center will be splashing this weekend as the Aggies dive into the last home meet of fall quarter.

The event this weekend is another stepping stone on the way to more competitive meets and invitationals later this season.

“We’re not resting,” Jahn said. “We are just training right through it. At least the weather is supposed to be good.”

Though Fresno State lacks a strong base in their program, they have some fierce swimmers that will pose a challenge for the Aggies.

“I hope that our depths will pay off,” Jahn said. “Individually, we will be challenged.”

The Aggies plan to lead in points with their strong base of excellent swimmers even if they don’t win first place in all events.

Jahn is hoping for a big home crowd to back the Aggies as they go for the win.

– Caleigh Guoynes

The Aggies were two wins from the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament last year.

This season, coach Gary Stewart believes UC Davis can reach the final 64.

“We’re deeper, we’re more versatile, more skilled and we can play in a variety of different ways,” Stewart said.

When talking about his fresh roster, Stewart is referring to the whole spectrum, ranging from the three seniors – Mark Payne, Joe Harden and Todd Lowenthal- to the nine new roster spots that have been filled since the end of the 2009-2010 season.

For the new-look Aggies, depth will not be an issue, especially with the leadership of the veterans.

“I think everybody just has to mature and take on different roles,” Payne said. “[As for] the guys that have been here for a couple years, we just have to make more of an effort to lead the young guys and bring them along.”

UC Davis may be a young roster, but Payne is by no means concerned with its skill.

“We have 12 guys that can really play,” Payne said. “We’re going to sub a lot and get a lot of guys in and out when they get tired. Every day, everybody competes and plays hard. That’s something we haven’t had in the past.”

The Aggies’ depth was first shown in two exhibition games at the beginning of November. UC Davis topped Menlo 84-78 and dropped a close one to Academy of Art 67-62.

The experience will also serve UC Davis well in a tough preseason schedule which features both California and UCLA.

Ultimately, facing two high-caliber teams will help boost the Aggies’ play in the Big West Conference.

“Those are definitely good games,” Payne said. “That’s what it’s going to be like when we play at UC Santa Barbara, and it’s on TV and there’s a lot of energy. You have to figure out how to stick with it and stay focused and not let adversity or the crowd get to you. Those games are a great test for that setting.”

Stewart looks to brush past the most recent loss to the Urban Knights as the Aggies head into the Athletes in Action Classic in Portland, Ore. this Friday.

“Every day the goal is to get better,” Stewart said. “On both sides of the ball we want to see how consistent we are with good play. We have to value the ball better than we have been, but we’re going to approach the games in the way that gives us the best opportunity to have success.

“We have an opportunity to improve, and we’re excited about that.”

What excites Payne about the new season and fresh team is the simple idea of getting on the court again.

“It’s a mini Big West Tournament,” Payne said. “We definitely need to be really focused. We play three games in three days, and that’s tough on the body. It’s a pretty intense weekend, but you just have to be concentrated on the scouting reports.”

GRACE SPRAGUE can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

Correction – Nov. 17, 2010: Men’s basketball coach Gary
Stewart was misquoted.
He actually said, “This
team is potentially better than the team that we’ve had in the past.”

Teams: UC Davis at Cal Poly

Records: Aggies, 4-5 (2-1); Mustangs, 7-3, (2-1)

Where: Spanos Stadium – San Luis Obispo, Calif.

When: Saturday at 6:05 p.m.

Who to watch: Wide receiver Sean Creadick is a marked man every week.

Last Saturday at North Dakota, however, Creadick played like he was wide open all game.

The senior out of Camarillo, Calif. came alive for 102 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-16 victory last Saturday.

“Creadick has been so consistent,” said coach Bob Biggs. “He’s made plays all year for us, and he’s really playing at an exceptionally high level. It amazes me the way he’s been able to get open.”

Did you know? The Aggies lead the all-time series against Cal Poly 17-16-2.

Preview: Motivation won’t be hard to find in a tenacious UC Davis team this Saturday at Cal Poly.

The Aggies are coming off a crucial road victory where they made plays big enough to set school and personal records.

“It’s Cal Poly,” said quarterback Randy Wright. “If you can’t get amped up for this game, you’re in the wrong sport. That’s all the motivation you need.”

From punter Colton Shmidt’s 78-yard boot to Wright’s new career-high 286 passing yards, Biggs liked what he saw last week against the Fighting Sioux.

“That was the game we were looking for all year,” Biggs said. “All in all, I’m very happy. We made big plays, and I was very pleased with how hard [the Aggies] played.”

The Aggie defense forced four turnovers against North Dakota – one of which resulted in a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Against the Mustangs this Saturday, in the storied Battle for the Golden Horseshoe, the Aggies will again need contributions from all angles of the game.

Luckily, the road victory gave UC Davis confidence and momentum entering the rivalry game.

“There’s nothing like winning,” Biggs said. “It’s an affirmation of all your hard work, and it [shows] a belief in what you’re doing.”

This mindset will be crucial for UC Davis as it faces another solid running game from its long-time rival Cal Poly.

The Mustangs average over 255 yards on the ground per game, led by running back Mark Rodgers who ran for 235 yards against Southern Utah last week.

Biggs says the Aggies will be ready.

“It’s been a great rivalry over the years,” Biggs said. “We’re not playing for a spot in the playoffs – they are. Our motivation is to have a winning season and to beat Cal Poly. It’s tradition, it’s history.”

– Grace Sprague

Rarely does a freshman make an immediate impact on a playoff-caliber team.

Freshman setter Jenny Woolway is an exception in this case.

The San Diego native filled the shoes for four-year starter Carson Lowden and started every set of every match this season.

Woolway’s presence has been felt as she leads the Big West Conference in total assists and is second in assists per game.

When discussing the starting setter, coach Jamie Holmes has nothing but postive sentiments about the freshman.

Woolway took a break from preparing for UC Davis’ final three games of the season to sit down with Aggie Sports Editor Jason Alpert and discuss her experience as an impact player for the Aggies.

How has the team been doing so far this season?

I think we’ve been doing a really great job. Last year’s team had some good success and at the beginning of the year the coaches and players wanted to make sure we came back strong this year and build off last year’s successes. I think we’re doing a good job in continuing the winning tradition.

What do you think has been the key to continuing these successes?

Our team chemistry helps a lot and it’s apparent on the court. I know all of us are having a great time together whether at practice or during the games. We just enjoy being with each other and that energy builds and it really drives us to do better. We’re all really competitive too and that drives us to win.

How did you fit in to the team chemistry coming in as a freshman?

At first, it was a little intimidating. All these girls had been through this before starting with double days and it was a little overwhelming. The girls were so welcoming. They didn’t make it too difficult to fit in. At first it was a jump to step up to college ball, but now it’s fine. We’re all fighting toward the same goal.

In your first season, you jumped right in there as the setter, the quarterback of the offense. How did you settle in at the position and learn the offense Holmes runs at UC Davis?

Luckily, my club team ran a similar offense. A lot of practice and gym time has helped the most. It’s still not all there yet as I’m still learning some plays. It helps because I have five other girls out there that know how every play should be. I’m surrounded by a lot of talented players and that really helps.

Holmes calls fighting toward the same goal as “out-teaming the opponent.” What does this mean to you and how has it helped your team during the season?

The first thing that comes to mind is the UC Santa Barbara game [at the Pavilion] a couple weeks ago. We were down two sets and six points in the third set and Jamie called a timeout and something just switched in our brains. We weren’t six individuals out there, we were one team.

Your first game starting was on the road against Utah. Were you nervous before the game?

[Laughs] Yeah I was. I don’t think I told anybody. The practice before the match [Holmes] pulled me aside and asked me how I was doing. In the locker room before the game, I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror and told myself I could do it. It was a fun environment to play in for my first match.

How has Holmes helped you transition to college play?

She has helped a lot in that she sets the bar very high for all us. This pushes us to be the very best we can be. She doesn’t accept anything but our best effort and she’s very good at telling if we’re not. She’s made the transition a lot easier because she holds the same standard for everybody so she doesn’t baby the freshmen at all.

Obviously there’s life outside of volleyball. How have you liked Davis so far?

I absolutely love it. I still haven’t found one thing to dislike about this school. I was up here over summer and I got to go around campus and the town and I fell in love with it. Once school started, I’ve been able to meet a lot of non-athletes and they’ve all been so nice. It’s a nice community.

You’re just a couple months into your college career, but do you have an idea of what you’d like to do after you graduate?

Honestly, I don’t really know yet. Everything about the human body and sports and movement has fascinated me from a young age. I’d like to learn a little more about how our bodies work and why it does what it does. I’ve thought about teaching, but it’s really too soon to tell for me to decide.

JASON ALPERT can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.

The Schaal Aquatics Center was buzzing with excitement with three new pool records set on Saturday.

The Aggies narrowly missed beating San Jose State on Saturday, but came back on Sunday to conquer both Seattle and Loyola Marymount.

Freshman Liliana Alvarez set the pool record for the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:02.79 and senior Heidi Kucera set the pool record for the 200 breaststroke.

Alternating back and forth with winning events, San Jose State and UC Davis had a close meet. The Aggies lost 144-156.

“It’s very nerve-racking as a coach to watch an event be that close,” coach Barbara Jahn said. “Any point here or there could make a huge difference. This is the closest matchup we’ve had with San Jose State in terms of points. We were up against a worthy opponent and we challenged them.”

After the battle with the Spartans, the Aggies jumped back in the pool on Sunday ready for the fresh competition.

Even with the rain, the Aggies won 12 of the 14 scored events, beating the Lions and Redhawks easily.

It was a challenge battling the rain,” Jahn said. “We also swam in events that we have never done before, but we still came back and swam well that second day.”

Senior Linda Hermann, freshman Megan Leung and Alvarez each won two individual events at the meet. Ashley Chandler, Kayleigh Foley, Joann Liang, Madeline Talt and Kucera also came out with individual wins.

Jahn attributes some of the team’s initial success to their modified weight-training workouts and new recruits that add to the quality of the team.

“We’re ahead of the game if you compare our times from last year,” Jahn said. “We’re definitely going in the right direction.”

Jahn encourages Aggie fans to come out for UC Davis’ last home meet of the fall season this Saturday against Fresno State. First race is set for 1 p.m.

CALEIGH GUOYNES can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.