The Oregon Ducks volleyball team traveled up I-5 and defeated the Portland State Vikings 3-0 behind strong performances by All-American Alaina Bergsma and Portland native Liz Brenner. Bergsma led the Ducks with 16 kills and Brenner contributed with 11 of her own.  Also joining the party was freshman middle-blocker Canace Finley who set a season record with 6 blocks.
The Ducks enjoyed another hot start, jumping out to a 14-8 lead in the first set against the Vikings. However, towards the end of the set momentum began to transfer Portland State’s way and they clawed back to within two at 19-17. Behind 5 blocks in the set the Ducks took the first 25-23 on a kill from Ariana Williams set up by Lauren Plum.
The second set proved to be another challenge for the Ducks as they started slowly and fell down 5-3 early. The Ducks trailed for a majority of the set but eventually pulled even at 18 on a kill by Ariana Williams. Portland State pulled ahead 22-20 and head coach Jim Moore decided to utilize his first timeout of the set. Following the timeout a kill by Katherine Fischer brought the Ducks to within one and they eventually tied the second set up at 23. An attack error by PSU’s Aubrey Mitchell sealed the second set for the Ducks at 25-23 giving them a 2-0 lead going into the third set.
As was the theme of the evening, the third set was a tightly contested affair as well. Oregon jumped out to a 6-4 lead early but Portland State tied the third at 7 after a kill by Aubrey Mitchell.
Turning point. After the Vikings tied the match, an attack error by Aubrey Mitchell gave the Ducks an 8-7 lead which began a 6-0 run for Oregon and setting them up nicely to secure the third set and the match. Portland State did make it interesting and pulled within four at 16-12 but the attack of the Ducks was too much and they won the third set 25-19 and the match 3-0.
On the horizon. The number 9 ranked Ducks next challenge will come in the form of the Oregon State Beavers on Wednesday, September 19th who journey to Matthew Knight Arena to open Pac-12 conference play.