Impressed that the team battled evenly with a quality USD squad (preseason pick to win the WCC) after such a big win the night before. As Plough says, “ Win or learn”. Hopefully, a growth opportunity.

I know very little about the techniques of volleyball - it was one of the few sports I didn't coach while teaching. But Dan Connors is building a legit program.

• Last year's team won the Big West regular season championship, and lost to Cal Poly in the Big West Tournament championship. Cal Poly finished last season anked 21st in the AVCA poll. The Aggies finished 21-7, 16-2 in conference (both losses to Cal Poly).

• The Aggies have beaten UCLA (in Davis), Kansas State (neutral site) in 2024, and Cal (in Berkeley) in 2025.

• Over the last 3 seasons, they've played tough on the road against Purdue, Indiana, Washington State, Washington, and especially this season taking current #8 SMU to 5 tough sets.

• In each of the last 3 season, the Aggies have played progressively more challenging pre-season schedules. This season they will play, or have played current #7 Arizona State (W), #8 SMU ( L ), #16 USC (TBD), 324 Oregon (TBD), and RV Cal Poly (W). In addition, non-P4 opponents Colorado State (Pac12), Northern Colorado(Big Sky) and USD (WCC) were picked to win or be near the top of their respective conferences.

There will be unexpected losses for sure. But I think it's clear that Connors is building the kind of program that we'd all like to support.

Ags play LMU to a nil-nil draw on the road. A W would’ve been better, but a solid effort considering how LMU has been playing tough against some P4 schools. Gotta clean up the offside issues.

Great win! Go Ags!

Aggies get a W; 1-0 over Pacific. The Tigers are toothless so far this season, but when you're in rebuilding mode like Davis is, any win is big.

Next up, on the road at LMU, which is probably tougher than their record indicates. Close losses to Pitt at home and to Cal, UCSB and Fullerton on the road. Aggies will need to take another step up in quality of play.

Aggies take down Cal Poly (RV) in 5 sets.! Come back from a set down. Four players with double- digit kills. Hopefully this gets the team over the mental hump against better teams.

Trivia:
As it happens, my wife taught Flores’ wife when Molly (nee Collins) was a student at St. James Elementary in Davis. She was in our youngest son’s class there. Her parents farm is just in Solano County on I-80.

Meanwhile, across the Causeway at the Hive...

https://www.abridged.org/news/sacramento-state-cal-expo-field/

The WSOC program WAS on an ascending path until Tracy Joyner left, and gutted the roster AND recruiting class on her way out the door. This in addition to significant losses via graduation. The 6-8 players she took with her to Oregon have all contributed significantly,.either last year (seniors), this year, or both. After a rough 1st season, Oregon is off to a solid start this year, around that core of UCD transfers

Meanwhile, at Davis, Kat Mertz had to go with those returning players Joyner deemed not worthy of an invite to Oregon, as well as rebuild the 2025 recruiting class - very late - with whatever players were still available. For example, the Aggies had lost their entire back line and had no goalkeepers on the roster when Mertz was hired. The 2025 season results speak for themselves - 3-12-4 overall; 1-8-1 Big West. On the plus side, the Aggies played hard to the final whistle on a tough season.

This year, 8 of the 9 transfers she's brought in are consistently starting, as well as 1 of this year's freshmen. 3 other freshmen are getting significant time off the bench. Rebuilding, but I expect it's going to take another season or so to - hopefully - get back to where the Aggies were in Joyner's last season.

This preseason, Mertz is channeling Emma Hayes, looking at different starting and subbing combinations. All 3 keepers have started at least once. In the field, only 4 players have started every game, and the Aggies have played 21 of the 25 field players on the roster.

It's way too early to panic, or to debate whether Mertz is a longterm solution. I know after speaking to a few of the graduating seniors after Mertz was hired, that players were impressed with her. One of the graduates had attended ID camps that Mertz had hosted (while the player was in high school) and absolutely loved her approach. Wished she had remaining eligibility. So I'm optimistic, while remaining patient.

What drop-off? UCD was 0 - 6 - 4 in last year's, preseason. UCD plays an almost exclusively West Coast preseason. Lots of very good soccer teams on the West Coast...even the "weaker teams are only weaker relatively.

Also probably an emotional hangover from coming so close to beating Stanford.

UCD WSOC ties UCSB, 1 - 1. Much better showing as Mertz continues to channel Emma Hayes looking at different starting and subbing combinations. The last year's starter, Piper Wilkison started in goal for the 1st time this season, the 3ed keeper to do so. 1 new starter in the field - the 16th player to get a start, and 2 new subs. The Aggies have now played 24 of the 28 players on the roster.

After beating #10 Penn State earlier, I expect SMU to move up.

Just went down 12-15 in 5th set. Heck of an effort. Didn't blink, didn't back down. Lots to build on.

Currently at our cabin in MT - issues with internet at times. Especially with streaming. Just watch Live Stats. Anyway, don't want to jinx buy changing what we're doing. GO AGS!!

Aggies hanging with SMU! 2 sets apiece; going to a 5th set!

Not so much. I only think about Sac - as in "wonder how it's going" when I see others post about them on AST. And I'm rarely interested enough to respond. Otherwise, don't follow them, visit their sites, etc. If they don't have my attention more than that, I wouldn't call it successful.

My response was really about your comment that UCD had not room to talk, not so much about Sac.

I do agree with your comments about not wanting the program to fold, and it being a potential natural rivalry which could benefit both programs. I think the contrast would be greatly to our advantage.

RE: "We don't have much room to talk, becuase honestly if we played Eastern Michigan we lose to."

"We" haven't been talking that we're FBS ready...not the chancellor, the AD, head coach, or anyone on this board. Sac State - particularly the president and the former head coach - have been talking smack going on 2 years. If you talk the talk, but don't produce, getting called out is a reasonable consequence.

BTW, what's your CA Burrito recipe? I also think you should offer a chicken mole and a chile colorado burrito.

This preseason the Aggies will also play 3 other teams picked to win their conferences: San Diego (WCC); Cal Poly (Big West) and Arizona State (Big 12). Plus 3 other P4 opponents - Cal, Oregon and USC.

Getting any win on this road trip is a major accomplishment. At Colorado State - picked to win the Pac 12; at Northern Colorado - picked to win the Big Sky; playing #11 SMU on a neutral court. Tough opening 3 matches.

I would love to see that as well. On the men's side, Schaffer has built a solid program, but there seems to be a hump his teams haven't gotten over. He needs to win a few championships, rather than just getting close.

The women are further away now. The program was on an ascending path, until Tracy Joyner left, and gutted the roster on her way out the door. The 6-8 players she took with her to Oregon have all contributed significantly,.either last year (seniors), this year, or both. After a rough 1st season, Oregon is off to a solid start this year.

Meanwhile, at Davis, Mertz had to go with those players Joyner deemed not worthy of an invite to join her at OR, as well as rebuild the 2025 recruiting class - very late - with whatever players were still available. The 2025 season results speak for themselves. This year, 8 of the 9 transfers she's brought in are consistently starting, as well as one of this year's freshmen. 3 other freshmen getting significant time off the bench. Rebuilding, but it's going to take another season or so to - hopefully - get back to where the Aggies were in Joyner's last season.