RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Ready to welcome the opposition and fans for its Big West Conference openers, UC Riverside hosts UC Davis Tuesday followed by Hawai'i Thursday, both matches at 7 p.m. PT in SRC Arena.
The 2021-22 school year marks UC Riverside's 20th year in the Big West Conference. Unbeaten at home in 2021 after winning their first two matches at SRC Arena, the Highlanders (4-6, 0-0 Big West) will be facing the Aggies (4-7, 0-0 Big West) and Rainbow Warriors (3-5, 0-0 Big West) for the first time since having conference and all other play canceled in 2019 due to COVID-19.
Admission is free this fall to SRC Arena. In order to enter the venue, all fans must complete the university's required
Visitors Daily Wellness Check on the same day as the event. Completion and confirmation of the
Visitors Daily Wellness Check will be verified, and fans must be symptom-free to gain entry. Water and sports drinks are allowed, but no outside food is permitted at the event. Adherence to staff requests for spectators to follow established protocols, including masking, social distancing and other aspects of visitors' code of conduct, is required.
The Highlanders return to campus after Saturday's finish at the Wildcat Classic, where UCR had a win against Texas Southern sandwiched between two losses to Arizona and San Diego State. As the team strives to achieve greater collective heights, several individuals have already distinguished themselves at the conference and national level.
Libero
Mia Christensen had 51 digs over the Wildcat Classic's three matches, including a Big West best 32 digs Sept. 17 vs. TSU, which tied for No. 9 nationally in a four-set match this season. Opposite hitter
Ayanna Kimbrough delivered 30 kills a .373 three-match attack percentage Sept. 17-18 at the Wildcat Classic, her three-match total highlighted by 16 kills and a .609 attack vs. Texas Southern.
It will be the 64th meeting between UC Riverside and UC Davis, which closed its nonconference schedule with an 0-3 loss at Saint Mary's Sept. 17. The Highlanders seek to end an eight-match losing streak to the Aggies. It was against UC Davis that the Highlanders hosted their last conference match at SRC Arena, a straight-set loss to the Aggies to end the season on Nov. 23, 2019.
The last win for UC Riverside over UC Davis came at SRC Arena in a five-setter on Oct. 23, 2015. Kaylin Squyres had 20 kills, Aima Eichie had 8 blocks, Sophia Mar had 50 assists and Malia Bolko had 20 digs that victory, which went 21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 23-25, 19-17 to UCR. The Highlanders lead the all-time series with the Aggies, 34-27-2.
The Highlanders have never beaten Hawai'i, coming closest at home on Sept. 3, 2017, when UCR took a 2-0 lead in sets before falling in five. Ahuna Kaiulani had 21 kills and Nicole Rodriguez had 15 digs in that outing. The last meeting was a 0-3 loss on Nov. 10, 2019, putting the all-time series at 24-0 in favor of Hawai'i. The last outing for the Rainbow Warriors was 1-3 loss to USC as Hawai'i split its Sept. 10-11 Outrigger Volleyball Series with the Trojans.
Following Tuesday's Big West opener and Thursday's conference match against Hawai'i, the Highlanders have a week before their next match, when they travel to UC San Diego to continue Big West play Friday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., followed by UC Irvine on the road Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.
