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Unranked UC Davis handed No. 7 Arizona State a home defeat on Sept. 10, winning 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21) in what NCAA.com reported as the highest-ranked win in Aggies program history.

The result is part of a rough stretch for top-10 programs, coming just five days after then-No. 10 Creighton fell to unranked Tulsa 3-2.

For UC Davis, the win caps a run that has been building. Earlier this season the Aggies pushed now-top-10 SMU to five sets before falling short, a performance that signaled they were capable of competing at this level.

How UC Davis Built the Win

Outside hitter Isabella Umpierre led all scorers with 17 kills. Setter Mia Starr ran the offense with 43 assists and added 10 digs, while also contributing to a combined 19 blocks alongside Allie Caldwell and outside hitter Ally Chandler.

With 10 kills on an efficient.563 hitting percentage, Chandler was a reliable offensive threat throughout. Combined with Brooke Hibino, the pair accounted for 24 kills between them. Libero Ximena Cordero Barr anchored the back row with a match-high 14 digs.

UC Davis controlled the opening two sets, building comfortable margins throughout. Arizona State clawed back in the third, seizing the first five points and eventually taking the set 25-22 to force a fourth. The Aggies steadied themselves.

Up 24-21 in the fourth, outside hitter Gianna Bogan put away the match-clinching kill off a set from Starr.

Arizona State's Attack Fell Short

Sun Devil outside hitter Noemie Glover was productive with 19 kills on a.250 hitting percentage, but her teammates collectively hit just.082 for the match, an imbalance the Aggies' block made insurmountable.

Arizona State has been one of the more reliable home teams in the country since 2023, and Thursday's result was only their third home loss in that span.

Spread across Chandler, Starr, and Caldwell, the Aggies' blocking effort was a central factor in keeping the Sun Devils' role players in check .

What Comes Next for UC Davis

The Aggies close out the Snyder-Park Classic on Saturday, Sept. 13, facing No. 24 Oregon at 4 p.m. ET. A win would give UC Davis back-to-back victories over ranked opponents in the same weekend tournament.

That kind of setting efficiency from Starr, combined with Umpierre's consistency at the pin, gives the Aggies a realistic platform to compete .

The gap is closing. Two top-10 programs have now dropped matches to unranked opponents within the same week of the 2026 season, suggesting the gap between ranked and unranked competition is narrower than preseason projections indicated.