Event: San Diego Crew Classic

Teams: UC Davis vs. Washington, Michigan, Notre Dame, among others

Where: Mission Bay – San Diego, Calif.

When: Saturday and Sunday; all day

Did you know? The UC Davis women won back-to-back coveted Cal Cups during their 2007 and 2008 seasons, fending off the likes of San Diego and SUNY for the titles.

As a result of their victories, the Aggies will be moving up a bracket this year to compete in the Jessop-Whittier Cup.

Preview: The UC Davis women’s rowing team has its work cut out for it as it heads to sunny San Diego this weekend to participate in the biggest regatta on the West Coast: the San Diego Crew Classic.

The Classic will feature various levels of rowers, ranging from juniors to ex-national teams to UC Davis‘ men’s and women’s teams.

The women will be competing in a much tougher field this season, as they look to advance from their heat on Saturday to the grand finals on Sunday.

Last season, the women won their category by two seats over San Diego.

This season, however, the preliminary field will be comprised of rowing powerhouses such as Wisconsin, USC, Washington, UCLA, Oregon State and Michigan.

The Aggies will have to pull out a top-two finish in their heat in order to guarantee themselves a spot in the grand finals. Unfortunately for the Aggies, the 2,000-meter racecourse is in open ocean waters, where a very active crosswind tide makes lane assignments crucial.

Due to random assignment, the Aggies will be racing in lane six, which is considered to be the roughest water on the course.

To watch the races live, visit: jamcotimes/2009sdcc.

– Andrea Gutierrez

Teams: UC Davis at Villanova

Records: Aggies, 3-8; Wildcats 4-6

Where: Villanova Stadium – Villanova, Pa.

When: Friday at 10 a.m.

Who to watch? Britt Farquharson has been on a goal-scoring tear as of late. Farquharson has scored an impressive 23 goals in the Aggies‘ last eight games.

The junior transfer from Longwood has been a valuable addition to the UC Davis women’s lacrosse squad this season, posting a hat trick or better five times.

Farquharson leads the team in both goals (25) and shooting percentage (52.1 percent).

Did you know? The Aggies are returning to the East Coast for the second time in as many weekends. UC Davis emerged from its first swing with a 1-2 record in three closely-contested games.

This time, the Aggies will take on the Villanova Wildcats before traveling to the nation’s capital to face Howard on Monday.

Preview: The Villanova men’s basketball team isn’t the university’s only squad on a winning streak.

While the Wildcats‘ basketball team was finding its way to the Final Four, the women’s lacrosse team was building a three-game winning streak.

The Aggies enter Friday play with some momentum of their own, having wrapped up their last East Coast roadie with a 9-7 win at Central Connecticut State.

UC Davis‘ scoring attack was more concentrated against the Blue Devils than it had been in previous games. Farquharson scored four goals, Patrice Clark had a hat trick and Jacklyn Taylor tickled the twine twice for the Aggies.

Another positive from the win was the performance of goalkeeper Alyssa Cranska. The sophomore allowed just seven goals while saving 10 shots on frame.

UC Davis will need another strong showing between the posts and from its offensive weapons go into Villanova and come out with a win.

– John S. Heller 

Teams: UC Davis vs. Pacific

Records: Aggies, 16-16 (1-2); Tigers, 15-18 (0-3)

Where: LaRue Field

When: Saturday at noon, 2 p.m.; Sunday at noon

Who to watch: During the Aggies‘ most recent road swing, junior Marissa Araujo emerged as a premier hitter for UC Davis.

The Indio, Calif. native hit .368 while driving in four runs, scoring three times and hitting a home run.

Araujo has boosted her average to .274 on the season, good for third on the team. Her .479 slugging percentage is a club-best.

Did you know: While UC Davis‘ pitching staff has been stellar this season, the Aggies are still waiting on the offense to catch fire.

UC Davis has a team batting average of .247, third lowest in the Big West Conference. They’ve scored the least amount of runs in the league.

If the Aggies are able to put the ball in play this weekend, they may have some success as Pacific has committed more errors (52) than any Big West team.

Preview: After dropping four of six in its recent road trip, UC Davis returns to LaRue Field for its first home Big West action of the year.

The Aggies began the week by exploding for nine runs in a shutout victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Monday. Haunted by errors, they then lost two tough games to No. 23 Fresno State, including one in extra innings.

UC Davis ended the weekend with its first Big West series against Long Beach State.

The 49ers won the first of Saturday’s twin bill by a 2-0 margin. The Aggies returned the favor in the second game of the doubleheader, winning by the same score.

The last contest of the weekend was the most dramatic, as it took nine innings for Long Beach State to score the deciding run and take the series with a 4-3 win.

Pacific is most recently off of a series with Cal State Northridge. It was swept by the Matadors.

The Tigers are led offensively by sophomore Nicole Matson, who has a .402/.667/.480 vital line. The Castaic, Calif. native also leads her team with 11 doubles and 28 RBI.

– Max Rosenblum

Event: Mondo Invite

Where: Hornet Stadium – Sacramento, Calif.

When: Saturday 10:30 a.m. (field), 1:30 p.m. (track)

Who to watch: Sophomore Alex Wilright decimated the field in the 400m hurdles at last week’s Cal-Nevada championships, clocking 50.60 to win by over a third of a second. That time is No. 3 in the nation this year, and Wilright is looking for even more.

“My next individual goal is to run 49 in the 400m hurdles,” Wilright said. “If I want to get on the podium at nationals, I know I will have to run sub 50.“

Don’t expect a 49 out of him this weekend, though, as Wilright will instead be contesting the open 400m to work on his speed. He will join sophomore Thomas Phillips, whose 51.25 in the 400m hurdles last week puts him in a tie for eighth in the nation.

Did you know? A total of seven Aggies are currently on the national leaderboard, with the short hurdlers fairing nearly as well as their longer counterparts.

Thanks to his dominating win in the 110m hurdles (13.88), junior Jazz Trice sits at No. 3 on the national list. Senior Polly Gnepa is tied for 13th.

On the field, junior Ben Nelson is in an 18-way tie for ninth in the high jump at 2.10m. Sophomore Ray Green sits at No. 14 in the triple jump (15.03m) while freshman Ethan Ostrom is in a 16-way tie for 21st in the pole vault (5.05m).

Preview: The 200m crew has been quiet so far this season, but all of that is about to change.

“Matt Council and Micah Grant are running their first 200m,” said women’s head coach and sprint coach Deanne Vochatzer. “That should be exciting.“

Grant is the school-record holder in the event, as he clocked 21.14 in 2007. He also sits at No. 3 in the 100m (10.57) and No. 9 in the 400m (48.30).

Council, who redshirted last season, was the seasonal No. 2 in the 100m (10.90), 200m (21.84) and 400m (48.64) in 2007. He was also part of last week’s school-record-setting 4x400m relay.

With these short sprinters joining the already impressive hurdlers, field eventers and middle distance runner Jon Sees, the Aggies look to turn some heads not only this weekend, but down the line as well.

“My goal for the team,” said Wilright, “is to win the Big West Conference Championship.“

– Alex Wolf-Root

Teams: UC Davis at No. 67 UC Irvine; UC Riverside; Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Records: Aggies, 2-11; Anteaters, 8-13; Highlanders, 4-14; Stags, 18-4

Where: Anteater Tennis Stadium – Irvine, Calif.; Student Recreation Center Tennis Courts – Riverside, Calif.; David X. Marks and Ben F. Smith Tennis Courts – Claremont, Calif.

When: Friday at 1 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m.; Sunday at noon

Who to watch: Senior Michael Reiser has risen to the challenge of leading the UC Davis men’s tennis team.

The De La Salle High School graduate has firmly cemented himself in the No. 2 singles slot with his consistent play, posting a team-high four wins in the position.

Reiser is in his third season with the Aggies after transferring from Boston College, where he had three singles victories as a freshman.

Did you know? Reiser, a second-team All-Big West Conference selection in doubles last season, also leads the team in doubles victories with four. He’s paired with new partner Nic Amaroli.

Preview: Coming off two hard-fought losses last weekend, the Aggies will look to come off this three-game road trip with some added success.

Their first match will probably prove to be their most difficult as the Aggies square off with the Anteaters. UC Irvine sits comfortably in first place in the Big West.

The ‘Eaters are led by standout freshmen Steven Henderson and Fabian Matthews, their No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, respectively.

Last season, UC Irvine came into Marya Welch Tennis Center and knocked off the Aggies 5-2 for a grinded-out win. All but one of the singles matches went three sets, including four tiebreakers. Tyler Hunter Lee and Nick Lopez grabbed the lone victories for the Aggies in singles play.

After Friday’s match, UC Davis will head over to Riverside to face the fifth-place Highlanders.

UC Riverside is one of two teams in the Big West yet to earn a conference victory, the Aggies being the other.

In the final match of the weekend, the UC Davis will play non-conference foe Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in Claremont.

The Stags are sitting at 15-4 overall this season, good for first place in the Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

– Matt Miller

If there’s been an award to be won, odds are Scott Weltz has come away with the honor.

Prior to this season, Weltz’s resume already consisted of earning Big West Conference Freshmen of the Year honors and being named Big West champion in three events as a sophomore.

A redshirt last season, Weltz spent his year training as an open swimmer, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the 200-yard breaststroke, 400 freestyle and 200 and 400 individual medley. He posted his best finish in the 400 IM, placing 30th.

Weltz picked up right where he left off for the Aggies this season, once again winning multiple events at the Big West Championships.

He won the 200 breast and 200 IM, setting new school, meet and conference records in both. His times were strong enough to qualify with “B” cut times, making Weltz UC Davis‘ first male swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships in College Station, Tex. last week.

At the Championships, Weltz became the first Aggie swimmer to be named an All-American, placing in the top 16 in both the 200 breast and 200 IM to earn the honors.

“With the two honorable mentions,” coach Pete Motekaitis said, “he lowered the conference and school record in the 200 IM, and set a new record in the 100 breast.“

The 100 breast record of 55.25 broke a five-year-old school record set by Matt Casto.

Throughout the season, Weltz showed his passion and determination in the pool. His hard work paid off as he set four individual school records and four relay school records.

Weltz holds the titles to the 100 breast (55.25), the 200 breast (1:54.91), the 200 IM (1:43.97) and the 400 IM (3:45.84).

– Andrea Gutierrez

Name: Mark Payne

Hometown: Stockton, Calif.

Position: Point guard

Year: Sophomore

Major: Managerial Economics

Look no further than the “received call” list on coach Gary Stewart’s cell phone tosee just how special Mark Payne is as a sophomore.

NBA scouts have already begun inquiring about the St.Mary’s Highgraduate,and afterhismost recentseason,the phone calls should keep coming.

The6-foot-7Mr.Everything point guardled the Big West Conference with5.0assists per game andfinishedsecond on the team with5.8rebounds per contest.A high-flyer around the rim,Payne averaged10.4points this season on67.5percent shootingand also registered a team-high1.4steals per game.

With two years of eligibility remaining,the bestshould stillbeyet to come for this all-Big West second-team selection.

Name: Marcos Orozco

Hometown:Vacaville,Calif.

Weight class: 125

Year: Senior

Major: Psychology

The UC Davis faithful has come to expect stellar seasons from Orozco,so it was no surprise when he delivered once again as a senior.

The Vacaville High School product finished his career with an impressive70wins,good for fifth-most in UC Davis wrestling history.

Orozco was ranked as high as No.17nationally this year in his weight class,and led the Aggies to a fourth-place finish at the Pacific-10Championships.He went22-10overall,including an impressive12-2record against tough Pac-10competition.

Orozco led the Aggies to some of the best wins in school history,including a shocking upset of No.10Northwestern and a convincing defeat of Pac-10powerhouse Oregon State this season.

Name: Vince Oliver

Hometown: Inglewood, Calif.

Position: Shooting guard

Year: Senior

Major: Human Development

In the big moments,in the big games,no one rose to the occasion this season more than Vince Oliver

The6-foot-3,200-poundseniorpaced the Aggies in Big West Conference play with18.4points per game on50.5percent shooting.

Among his highlights,Oliver scored a career-high33pointson Feb.5to lead UC Davis past a first-place Long Beach State team at Walter Pyramid.In the program’s first Division I playoff game,the Loyola High graduate had20points to rally UC Davis to a win over UC Irvine in the conference tournament.

It was only appropriate thatOliver was namedto theall-Big Westfirst-teamat the end of the regular season.He leaves the program ranked third all-time with1,528career points,andmore scoring is likely on the way.

Oliver looks to continue his standout career at the European pro level.

Name: Paige Mintun

Hometown: Valley Center, Calif.

Position: Post

Year: Sophomore

Major: Communication

After suffering three season-ending injuries and a myriad of other ailments,UC Davis was able to rely on the inside presence of Mintun throughout the year.

Mintun led the Aggies with13.0points and6.4rebounds per game.She also tallied team bests in assists (69),steals (44) and blocks (31) and was second on the squad with a.794free throw percentage.

For her efforts,Mintun garnered first-team All-Big West Conference honors.

She had her best performance against Cal State Northridge in the conference opener on Jan.4.Mintun had25points,10rebounds,seven assists,six steals and three blocks to help coach Sandy Simpson to his200th career win.

Name: Andi Dolinsky

Hometown: Grand Terrace, Calif.

Events: Floor, bars

Year: Senior

Major: English

It doesn’t get much better than the best, unless the best happens twice.

In 2007, Dolinsky was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Year and qualified for the West Regional on floor.

An injury forced Dolinsky to end her 2008 season nearly before it began, shedding doubts on whether she’d be able to compete again.

In 2009,she was back.While unable to reach quite the same level she did as a junior, Dolisnky performed well enough to lead the MPSF on floor (9.850),hitting9.8or better four times throughout the season.

Though she only finished third at the MPSF Championships, her overall season gave her the nod as Co-Gymnast of the Year yet again.

Name: Lauren Juric

Hometown: Grass Valley, Calif.

Position: Wing

Major: Exploratory

The 2008-2009 UC Davis women’s basketball team had seven freshmen on its roster.

Juric was the one that took the forefront for the Aggies, as she was named to the Big West Conference’s All-Freshman squad en route to receiving Freshman of the Year honors. She was also an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection.

Juric started 28 of her team’s 29 games this season while averaging 8.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She also blocked 19 shots, good for second most on her team.

She was also dangerous from behind the three-point line this season, converting at a .407 shooting rate, good for second in the conference.

One of her best performances of the season came in a 47-44-overtime loss to UC Riverside on Feb. 7. Juric scored 14 points, grabbed 12 boards and recorded three steals.

Name: Alex Daneke

Hometown: Lodi, Calif.

Position: Backstroke/Freestyle

Year: Freshman

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Alex Daneke never let his youthful side interfere with business in the pool.

As a true freshman, Daneke contributed to the fastest relays UC Davis has ever seen. He helped set records in the 400 freestyle, 800 free relay and 400 medley.

A recent Lodi High School graduate, Daneke was considered a top recruiting prospect after posting All-American times throughout his time in high school.

Daneke swam well throughout regular season, posting top performances in the 200-yard freestyle, 500 free and both backstroke distances.

Heidi Kucera could be the greatest female swimmer UC Davis has ever had.

Hailing from Palo Alto, Calif., Kucera has put forth numerous school and conference records, and was the first Aggie to qualify for the NCAA Championships with an “A” cut time standard.

This season, Kucera won three or more individual events in each of the team’s conference duals. She also went on to win individual Big West Conference titles in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200 individual medley.

Both conference titles were made in school-, meet- and conference-record-setting times; the times were also nationally recognized “B” cuts.

In addition to her two titles, Kucera placed second in the 200 breast, crushing her previous record by five seconds to post a 2:09.41. That time had her ranked No. 7 in the nation leading into the NCAA Championships, which were held two weeks ago at Texas A&M.

Kucera placed 18th at the Championships, missing out on All-American honors by just .14 seconds.

“It was intense,” Kucera said. “Going to Texas was a learning experience. Overall, I was pleased with myself and it was exciting to be in the fastest meet in the nation.“

Kucera held eight school records – five individual, three relays – by season’s end. She was named Big West Athlete of the Year for her efforts.

Kucera doesn’t limit her work in the pool to the area between lanes, though. She also plays driver for the UC Davis women’s water polo team.

Outside the pool, Kucera is also a rodeo competitor, specializing in barrel racing and team roping. She competed during the offseason in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, and was ranked 16th in the circuit.

– Andrea Gutierrez

Teams: UC Davis at San Diego State

Records: Aggies, 4-17; Aztecs, 19-9

Where: PETCO Park – San Diego; Tony Gwynn Stadium – San Diego

When: Friday at 2:30 p.m.; Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.

Who to watch: UC Davis scored a season-high 11 runs on 15 hits earlier this week, and Jared Thompson helped lead the effort.

Playing against his former team, the junior transfer went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the Aggies‘ 11-3 win over Fresno State on Tuesday.

Did you know? SDSU has played a regular season game at PETCO Park four times since the ballpark’s opening in 2004.

In the Aztecs‘ first contest at the facility, they set an NCAA baseball attendance record with 40,016 fans.

Preview: UC Davis proved earlier this week it could hit against defending national champion Fresno State.

On Friday, the Aggies will have the ultimate test when they face the most dominant pitcher that collegiate baseball has seen in recent memory.

UC Davis will take on baseball’s top amateur prospect, junior right-hander Stephen Strasburg. The fire-throwing San Diego native consistently runs his pitches in the high-90s and has reached 103 MPH on the radar gun with his fastball.

The 6-foot-4 phenom is 5-0 in six starts this year with a 1.70 ERA. He has allowed just 24 hits and eight walks while striking out 88 batters in 42.1 innings.

Friday’s game at PETCO Park will precede an exhibition game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The remainder of the series will take place at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

– Michael Gehlken