Kat Mertz<\/a> has announced the addition of seven student-athletes to the program’s 2026 recruiting class as the Aggies continue their momentum heading into next season’s transition to the Mountain West Conference.<\/p>\n“We’re thrilled to welcome this 2026 class to our UC Davis family,” said Mertz. “This group brings an exciting blend of dynamic attacking threats, creative forwards, and gritty, hard-working midfielders and defenders. All seven of these players are hungry, competitive, and ready to hit the ground running.<\/p>\n
“Just as importantly, they are exceptional humans\u2014driven in the classroom, committed to their development, and embodying what it means to be an Aggie. We can’t wait to get to work with them and see how they elevate our program and help us continue to push toward where we know we can go.”<\/p>\n
Isabella “Bella” Fernandez M\/F \u2022 Napa, Calif. (Justin Siena HS \/ SoCal Blues \/ Napa United GA) Fernandez joins the program following a decorated career in Napa. A prolific scorer, she tallied 29 goals as a freshman to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors, 30 goals as a sophomore en route to being named Vine Valley Athletic League MVP, and 35 goals as a junior to secure Napa County Player of the Year recognition. Notably, Fernandez became the youngest player ever to debut in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) at age 13. Her club experience includes stints in the UPSL, training with a USLW team, and playing MLS NEXT with a boys’ team. She also spent five years in the Cal North ODP and PDP state pools.<\/p>\n
Loralei Heldreth D \u2022 Barstow, Calif. (Excelsior Charter \/ Legends FC) Heldreth brings extensive high-level club experience to Davis. A 2023 ECNL U15 All-American, she was a three-time Southwest All-Conference First Team selection with Legends FC, where she played for 11 years. In 2024, she participated in the Capelli Sport Plus Denmark Tour. Heldreth is also a Dean’s List student at Barstow Community College.<\/p>\n
Payton Henry F\/M \u2022 Canyon Lake, Calif. (Murrieta Valley HS \/ SoCal Blues) A varsity standout since her freshman season, Henry is a three-time scholar-athlete and three-time Nighthawk MVP. Her accolades include both First Team and Second Team All-League honors. She competes for the SoCal Blues ECNL and is the twin sister of fellow signee Presley Henry.<\/p>\n
Presley Henry F \u2022 Canyon Lake, Calif. (Murrieta Valley HS \/ SoCal Blues) The twin sister of Payton Henry, Presley joins the Aggies as a four-year varsity player and a three-time All-Division CIF First Team selection. In addition to her high school accolades, which include Nighthawk Academic Athlete and Athlete of the Month honors, she competes with the U.S. national futsal team and plays club soccer for SoCal Blues.<\/p>\n
Kaya Herndon F\/M \u2022 Torrance, Calif. (Torrance HS \/ Beach FC) Herndon arrives with a decorated profile, having been named Pioneer League MVP as a sophomore and First Team All-League as a freshman (Pioneer) and junior (Bay). The Torrance High varsity MVP is a multi-sport athlete who also competed in track and flag football. At the club level with Beach FC, Herndon earned three Southwest All-League First Team selections and helped her team capture the 2024 ECNL National Championship.<\/p>\n
Chloe Keating F \u2022 Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O’Dowd HS \/ Lamorinda SC) A four-year varsity player and team captain, Keating was named the West Alameda County Conference Player of the Year after recording 28 goals and 24 assists. She spent seven years with Lamorinda SC and was a multi-sport athlete at Bishop O’Dowd, competing in cross country and track.<\/p>\n
Samantha Murdin D \u2022 Lafayette, Calif. (Acalanes HS \/ Lamorinda SC) Murdin played varsity soccer as a senior at Acalanes High School after competing in varsity track during her freshman and sophomore years. On the club circuit with Lamorinda SC, she earned Girls Academy Talent ID call-ups in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as USYNT Talent ID identification in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
\nUC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026\u201327.<\/p>\n
# # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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