The No. 9 UC Davis equestrian team will travel to face No. 10 South Dakota State on Saturday, February 21. This matchup follows a week off for the Aggies, who previously defeated the Jackrabbits 12-7 in October. Both teams enter the meet ranked in the top 10 of the NCEA Dual Discipline Selection Committee rankings.
The UC Davis Aggies, ranked No. 9, return to competition after a week off with a road trip to South Dakota State University for a Big 12 Conference matchup on February 21. The No. 10 Jackrabbits hold a 4-5 record this season, including victories over Delaware State and Minnesota Crookston, and losses to UT Martin, Fresno State, South Carolina, TCU, and UC Davis.
UC Davis last met South Dakota State on October 11 in Davis, securing a 12-7 victory. The Aggies climbed to No. 7 in the NCEA rankings heading into the spring season, up from No. 9 at the fall's end. This shift reflects the transition from the Coaches Poll to the Selection Committee Rankings.
Recent accolades highlight UC Davis's strength. After a 16-3 home win over Minnesota Crookston on February 6, Ada Hirschfeld earned Most Outstanding Performer honors in Reining with a score of 72, leading a 5-0 sweep, while Lauren Kolbe took MOP in Fences with an 88, anchoring another 5-0 event win. Both riders were named ECAC Riders of the Week.
Earlier honors include Anna Donovan and Lauren Kolbe recognized by the ECAC after a road slate against SMU, TCU, and Fresno State, where Donovan scored a weekend-high 86 in Flat and Kolbe went 3-0 in Fences. The team also swept multiple ECAC Rider of the Week and Month awards in the fall, with riders like Chloe Fares, Eliza Plum, Mya Clader, and others honored.
Key returners for UC Davis include All-American Lauren Kolbe in Flat, 2025 ECAC Freshman Rider of the Year Anna Donovan in Fences, and All-ECAC Nicole Shroyer in Reining. The roster features experienced players such as Sophia Blake, Ada Hirschfeld, and Kylie Jacobson, alongside a class of 10 newcomers including freshmen Maddie Allen and Cavan Smith.
UC Davis aims to build on its strong fall, which included a first-ever win over then-No. 5 TCU and entry into the top 10 rankings.
