UC Davis Beach Volleyball Opens 2026 Season at Canyon Classic vs. Top Competition

DAVIS, Calif. — The UC Davis beach volleyball team begins its 2026 season this Friday, February 20, at the Canyon Classic hosted by Grand Canyon University. The Aggies will face a challenging opening weekend, taking on Arizona State, Arizona, TCU, and Colorado Mesa over two days.

The tournament begins for UC Davis with a matchup against No. 11 Arizona State at 8:00 am, followed by a contest against Arizona at 10:30 am on Friday. Saturday’s schedule includes a game against No. 5 TCU at 10:30 am and concludes with a match against Colorado Mesa at 1:00 pm. Live stats will be available for all matches, and updates can be found on the team’s X and Instagram accounts, @ucdavisbvb.

UC Davis enters the season ranked fourth in the Big West preseason coaches poll, receiving 20 points. The Aggies concluded the 2025 season with an 18-17 record, falling to Hawai’i in the first round of the Big West Tournament.

The Aggies face a demanding schedule, highlighted by contests against two nationally ranked opponents in Arizona State and TCU. Arizona State is coming off a successful 2025 season, posting a 22-win record and finishing second in the Big 12, ending the year ranked No. 12 nationally. The Sun Devils are led by Samaya Morin, an AVCA All-American.

UC Davis has yet to defeat Arizona State, holding a 0-1 all-time record against them. Arizona, with an 18-12 record in 2025, also presents a challenge, and the Aggies are 0-4 against the Wildcats historically. Arizona returns several key players, including Madeline Walker.

Reigning national champion TCU enters the season ranked fifth in the country and boasts returning players Sofia Izuzquiza, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and Anhelina Khmil, the Big 12 Pair of the Year winner. UC Davis has lost all four previous matchups against TCU.

Colorado Mesa, coming off a program-best 21-win season in 2025, will be the final opponent for the Aggies. The team defeated five Division I opponents last season and returns the duo of Ellie Question and Gracyn Spresser. UC Davis holds a 1-0 record against Colorado Mesa.

This season marks the first for Ari Homayun as head coach of the Aggies, following a successful career at Hawai’i and CSUN. She is joined by assistant coach Georgia Romine-Black. Despite losing all-conference player Kylie Miller, UC Davis returns contributors Skye Smolinski, Kate O’Steen, and Kimi Waller. The team has also added several new players, including transfers Morgan Gillinger and Ella Erteltova, and freshmen Reagan Cook, Savannah White, Elle Black, and Kaitlynn Chastain.

The 2026 season is the Aggies’ last in the Big West before transitioning to the Mountain West Conference in 2027.