Talk about opening with a bang. 

On the first point of the game, Hannah Pukis jumped over the scorer’s table to save what would have been a service ace for California. However, Pukis was able to earn an assist with an incredible pass that led straight to a kill for Kara McGhee.

“We talk before every game starts,” said Pukis about the play. “I try to be like ‘this first part we’re going to be as aggressive as we can.’ So if I’m not embodying that, I can’t really ask that from my teammates.”

McGhee, who was honored before the game for reaching 600 career blocks, wouldn’t stop there. She had seven kills in the opening set for the Ducks.

The opening to the game set the tone for the Ducks, who were able to bounce back from a sweep against Arizona State in their last contest. Oregon (17-3, 7-2 Pac-12) with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) win over Cal (13-7, 2-7 Pac-12).

The Ducks took the lead 11-10 after trailing for the early part of the first set. After taking the lead, Oregon was able to keep Cal at arms length for the rest of the set. The two teams traded points, with the Ducks maintaining about a four point lead. Oregon ended on a 5-0 run to win the first set 25-18.

Oregon’s hitting percentage in the first set was .357, but Cal was able to stay close due to five service errors from the Ducks in the set.

The Ducks opened up the second set with some great hitting on their way to an early 12-5 lead. Oregon hit .692 with nine kills on those first 12 points. Cal utilized a 5-1 run to cut the Oregon lead to just three at 13-10. The Ducks and the Golden Bears stayed close together throughout the rest of the set. Cal was able to tie the set at 22, the first time the Bears had tied it up in the set. Oregon responded by going on a 3-0 run to end the set. Cal never led in the set.

The Ducks hit .455 for the set, but added three more service errors to bring their total up to eight through the first two sets.

“I liked our aggressive serving,” head coach Matt Ulmer said about the serving in the game. “I feel like when we don’t miss that many serves, it’s too cautious. It’s too safe.”

The third set was an even match through the early points. Neither team took more than a one point lead until a 4-0 Oregon run gave them a small 9-6 lead. A 6-2 Ducks run shortly after, made it a five point game, with Oregon holding a 16-11 lead halfway through the set. Cal was able to tie the game back up at 17 with a 6-1 run. Oregon was able to pull away just enough for a 25-21 win in the third set.

The Ducks will take on the No. 3 ranked Stanford Cardinal on Sunday in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN.