The No. 3 Oregon volleyball team is running like a well-oiled machine through conference play right now. After sweeping the two Arizona schools over the weekend, the Ducks now sit only a game out of first place in the incredibly top-heavy Pac-12 Conference.
Both Alaina Bergsma and Liz Brenner are ranked in the top 10 in conference in kills per set, at 4.62 and 3.84 respectfully, and junior setter Lauren Plum leads the Pac-12 in assists with 13.02 per set, a national best. @@http://pac-12.com/Sports/VolleyballW/Statistics.aspx@@
Oregon is off to its best start in program history, having now won 18 of 19 overall and four in a row. While head coach Jim Moore continually stresses the need for improvement and consistency with his squad, the Ducks have positioned themselves very nicely to make a run at the national title in the NCAA tournament.
However, as well as the team is playing, some supporters fear this initial early-season success could result in a second half let down in Moore’s eighth campaign at the helm for the Ducks.
In 2011, Oregon started off in a similarly hot fashion, but saw a disastrous October where the team went 4-5, at one point dropping four matches in a row. The team was never able to regain the momentum they had gathered earlier in the season and ended up losing 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Colorado State. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4284&SPID=234&DB_OEM_ID=500&Q_SEASON=2011@@
So what makes this year’s team better equipped to deal with the rigors of the long collegiate volleyball season than in 2011?
For starters, this team is a year older and more experienced. Redshirt senior outside hitter Alaina Bergsma and four other seniors have returned and remember the disastrous month that stonewalled their season last year.
Bergsma in particular, who was seen sobbing after the NCAA loss to Colorado State, provides maturity and a sense of calm consistency that will pay massive dividends at the end of the season and into the tournament.
The maturation of the freshman that Oregon has on the roster also adds more depth to an already talented squad.
This year, the Ducks welcomed five new freshmen to the team and their contribution, especially that of middle blocker Canace Finley, give Oregon an added dimension of depth that Moore has not had in the past.
At this point in the season, the Ducks’ worst enemy is themselves. They have proven time and again they are capable of playing with and defeating the top teams in the nation and are legitimate national title contenders.
In order to make sure they do not have another disastrous October and maintain their momentum headed into the NCAA tournament, the key is to remain focused and play each game not looking too far into the future.
If they are able to do this, 2012 could be a special year for Moore and the Ducks.