I agree that the Aggies are a better team than they’ve shown the last two games. Part of it is the growing pains of a young team. 7 of the 10 currently active players have been in the program for less than two full years. And only Ryann Bennett and Tegan Young played big minutes last year. As good as they maybe, and I think several are very good, most are still learning the college game.

And the ladies need to get over looking at the name “Stanford”on the jersey and seeing “Superwoman”. The seniors have been conditioned to expect to lose to the Cardinal, at least subconsciously. It’s going to take actually beating Stanford to change that. Perhaps not just in basketball, or just once, but across the board, since we play them every year in several sports. With some consistency.

Yes he did! Kudos to Dan Connors! He’s steadily built a solid program that will hopefully be immediately competitive in the MW.

AND it seems like he’s pretty settled here, so the volleyball program can continue to ascend.

I think, regardless of whatever timeline UCD admin may have in mind, it’s the “be prepared.” Realignment chaos probably isn’t over, and may not be for sometime. Having a better football facility will allow us to have maximum flexibility, come what may.

Aggies fight off a determined CSUN squad, prevailing 15-10 in the 5th set. Davis on their heels much of the night, but find a way.

A successful graduate post would be the type of player to look for 1st IMHO. The one-year master’s program at the Graduate School of Management has been a good draw for UCD Athletics.

A second type of player would be someone like a junior or redshirt senior who hasn’t gotten the playing time they hoped, but otherwise fits the UCD WBB player profile. The kind of player the Aggies would’ve liked to recruit as a freshman.

With yesterday’s end to the Early Signing Period, time for first impressions of the incoming recruiting class, and what’s might come via the Transfer Portal and the Regular Signing Period, which starts April 15, 2026.

Currently, the 2026 Class consists of 6’3” post Marta Forsline, and backcourt players Anna Bassett (6’0”), Rebecca Donnelly (6’1”), Layla Dixon (6’0”) and Taylor Hicks (6’0”). When added to Emmy Ersdala (6’1”), Sophie Lentfer (6’0”) and Carrington Davis (5’10”) from the 2025 Class, the immediate realization is that the Aggies are getting taller in the backcourt. Indeed, Davis may have one of the taller overall rosters in the Mountain West next season.

Secondly, UCD is continuing to build to rum. Bassett, Donnelly, Dixon and Hicks can all run the floor. Forsline’s junior year highlights showed some ability to move, while a clip from Minnesota’s 3x3 Championships in August demonstrates real growth in movement, as well as court awareness and passing ability. Also, like Sophie Lentfer, she's a volleyball player in high school, which adds a movement dimension.

Next, when the five signees are added to the the six definite returnees - Ersdala, Lentfer, Davis, Ryann Bennett, Avery Sussex, Tegan Young, and Theoni Tsami, next year’s roster already is as large as this season’s. With 2 additional scholarship spots available, the Aggies may have a larger squad next year, either because of other returnees (Helen Matthews?), or new signings.

Finally, I’ve gotta think that Jen Gross and staff are probably looking for another post player. Even if she returns, Ally Fitzgerald’s recurring back issues have unfortunately rendered her unavailable.and “availability is the most important ability”. Perhaps, through the transfer portal, looking for an older, more experienced player to give Forsline time to develop. Theoni Tsami and Tegan Young are currently backing up Megan Norris in the post, in Fitzgerald’s absence. Both are a little undersized for the position, especially in the Mountain West,

Add Rebecca Donnelly, a 6’1” wing from Sydney, Australia to the 2026 recruiting class. Playing in the Northern Suburbs Basketball Association, Donnelly was named the league’s Junior Player of the Year this season. She was recently selected by Basketball Australia to participate in the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships this December.

TY!

The UCD Worm's Volleyball team returns home for the final week of the regular season, still in 1st place. On Thursday, the Aggies host 5th place CSUN (9-7 BW; 16-11 overall). A win clinches at least a tie for the regular season championship.

GO AGS!

For sure! Vic was on the floor twice after loose balls in her initial 2 minute stint, picking up a foul each time. Taking 5 minutes to get her last 3 fouls, was actually an improvement! Hope she got some of her frustration from missing 3 games out of her system.

Getting her back will improve the second unit. She can play all 3 of the backcourt positions, and with her length and willing physicality, can even guard some small 4's.

Always hate to lose, but Gross and staff will use this as a valuable, and probably necessary, learning experience for a young team. Offense wasn't the problem as the Aggies put up 77 points with solid numbers in each quarter. The problems were lights out shot-making by the Broncos coupled with uncharacteristically poor defense by UCD. Boise shot 54% from the field (+12% over season average) and 61% from beyond the arc (+96%)>. Those averages INCUDE last night's game, so even more over what BSU was shooting coming into the contest.

Takeaways:

• Vic Baker played 7 minutes after missing the first 3 games with an injured ankle. Hopefully, she came out with no setback in her recovery. Brought her usual intensity, but definitely rusty and tried too hard - typical Vic; 5 fouls in her 7 minutes. Another healthy body can only be a good thing, especially as Vic settles in and SETTLES DOWN.

• Emmy Ersdala continues to impress, get more playing time, and make a case for even more.

• Theoni Tsami is moving more naturally and playing more confidently with each game, even with limited minutes, as she works back from last season's knee injury. Both she and Carrington Davis got minutes last night, which is all to the good, longterm.

• The Aggies have an incredible starting backcourt. Ryann Bennett, Nya Epps and Avery Sussex are each averaging 13.8 ppg or more, and are all above 48% from the field, 37.5% from 3, and 83% from the line. Add in sterling defense from Epps and Bennett, and some consistent rebounding from Sussex. Pretty special group!

• A little concern about Megan Norris. I noticed tape on her hamstring in the opener and last night she was wearing a legging on the same leg. Hopefully something minor that she'll get over.

Lost opportunity last night to put a stranglehold on the regular season championship. Now the Aggies have to win out to keep the #1 seed for the BW Tournament.

Hoping for aan energetic bounce-back tonight against the Tritons.

GO AGS!

UCSB over Cal Poly in 5 sets! The Aggies have a 2 match lead over the Mustangs with 4 matches left to play. Tomorrow’s match at CSULB is HUGE!

The Aggies signed all four of their current commits to financial aid offers, so those players are in the fold. Or at least as much in the fold as possible anymore. If someone gets a better offer after an outstanding senior season? Who knows???

Layla Dixon (6'0" wing from Carondelet) seems pretty excited, as she posted to the Instagram sites of her 3 fellow commits.

This links to an article about Marta Forsline signing with the Aggies: https://www.mesabitribune.com/sports/forsline-signs-with-d-i-uc-davis/article_9c69e0bd-4b8e-4a7b-b145-88f5ad635d1b.html

Eliminating/reducing the sloppy/careless turnovers always needs to be a point of emphasis. 12-15 a game is considered the acceptable range. Any game with more than 18 is a problem.

Abridge, thanks for the information, though your post is definitely concerning, as well as sad for those ladies. So much upside with this group, but getting through a season with only nine healthy players is dicey. And currently, Jen Gross really only has a 7-player rotation. Hopefully Tsami and Davis will get to where they can take up some of the minutes.

The short bench should pay some longterm dividends, since the Aggies will return a very experienced core group for Y1 in the Mountain West. But it's imperative we get at least one experienced post player through the portal for next year. IMHO. Right now, incoming freshman Marta Forsline is next year's starting post, with a significant drop in size behind her. Ally Fitzgerald just can't be counted on being available. For her own longterm health, it's questionable if she should continue to try to play. Maybe the same with Sahana.

The turnovers annoy me as well, but it’s what you’re going to get running the Princeton offense.

Back door cuts are not an easy completion. Beautiful when you connect, but it’s always a bang-bang play through lots of bodies into a tight window. Seldom any margin for error.

It looks like the defense clamped down after the first quarter. Boise State will be much tougher. Kind of like the young Aggies going into that contest feeling they played poorly tonight.

Early signing period starts Wednesday, Nov. 12, runs through Wednesday, November 19.

Another crucial week on the road,for the Aggies as they try to win their first ever Big West regular season championship - and their first championship of any kind since 1996.

On Friday, Davis takes on Long Beach, currently tied for 3rd with Santa Barbara, after dropping matches to both the Gaichos and Cal Poly last week. Mathematically still in the race, a loss to the Aggies ends title hopes for the Beach. Davis took the match in Davis, 3-1.

[Correction: The day before, on Thursday evening], Santa Barbara hosts 2nd place Cal Poly in a must win for both teams. A CP loss, coupled with an Aggie victory, would put UCD two matches ahead in the standings with only 3 left to play. A CP win puts the pressure on the Aggies since Cal Poly holds the tie-breaker.

The Age follow-up on Saturday at UCSD, which took UCD to a 5th set earlier in the year. Davis were twice down a set before coming back to win.

An Aggie sweep this week would all but clinch the regular season championship.

GO AGS!!

Cal Poly in straight sets.