The Oregon volleyball team flew to Hawaii earlier this week, but the Ducks didn’t stray from the continental United States for a vacation.
Instead, Oregon is preparing to face Colorado State tomorrow in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, disappointed they won’t be playing in Eugene.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4287&SPID=234&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205339225&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Duck head coach Jim Moore had harsh words for the NCAA Tournament selection committee that denied Oregon the opportunity to host a regional tournament. The Ducks (21-9, 14-8 Pac-12),@@see previous@@ have four victories over top-7 opponents,@@changed from top-11: http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=234&SPSID=4284@@ and beat two No. 1-ranked teams.@@see previous@@
“I think it has to do with a committee that doesn’t understand volleyball very well,” Moore said. “It doesn’t surprise me at all. I think it’s absurd, but it certainly doesn’t surprise me.”
Oregon wasn’t the only Pac-12 team to get a raw deal from the selection committee. USC, which was ranked No. 1 in the latest coaches poll,@@http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/avca_coaches@@ received only a seventh seed,@@bracket@@ Stanford and UCLA were seeded below their coaches poll ranking, and Cal, ranked tenth,@@see coaches poll@@ was also unseeded.@@bracket@@
Like the other Pac-12 teams, Oregon will try to make the best of a disappointing situation. They acknowledge Hawaii isn’t exactly an undesirable destination to begin their NCAA Tournament run.
“We were obviously all disappointed, but at the same time, we’re in Hawaii right now,” Duck outside hitter Alaina Bergsma@@roster: http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=234&SPSID=4285@@ said. “We can’t complain too much.”
The Ducks aren’t viewing the trip as a vacation, however, even though their hotel is near one of Hawaii’s many famous beaches.
“This is a business trip,” Bergsma said. “We are staying fairly close to the beach, so we will be able to hit the beach at some point, but most of us are really just focused on volleyball and getting school done.”
Indeed, Oregon’s time for relaxation will be limited.
“It’s not to experience Hawaii,” Moore said. “(Oregon libero Haley Jacob@@roster@@) said it best. We were in the airport when we left Portland, and some woman said our hotel is okay; it’s not on the beach. And (Haley) said we’re not here to go to the beach.”
Bergsma named Miss Oregon USA
After learning her team’s NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday afternoon, Bergsma’s weekend received a major boost later in the day. She was named Miss Oregon USA on Sunday afternoon and will represent the state in the Miss USA pageant in June.
“I found out about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday,” Bergsma said. “I was on stage, holding hands with my first runner-up. I gave her a really big hug, she was announced first, and it just comes as a whirlwind. They hand you flowers, and you walk down on stage with a crown on. Just all smiles.”
Bergsma’s teammates have been supportive of her quest to win Miss USA, which began over summer when she won Miss Lane County.
“They were really supportive,” Bergsma said. “I have gotten a lot of jokes, but it’s all in good fun.”
While some schools may put limitations on their athletes during the season, Moore encourages his players to pursue extracurricular activities.
“You have to have a life,” Moore said. “I think that all volleyball all the time makes you crazy. There’s a lot more important things in this world than volleyball. My children are the most important things in my life. There is no question about that.
“You have to have a well-rounded life. I think that’s much more important than just being single-minded.”
Ducks earn Pac-12 recognition
Several Oregon players earned spots on the Pac-12’s post-season all-conference teams. Bergsma and setter Lauren Plum@@roster@@ were named to the league’s All-Pac-12 team,@@i added bergsma: http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204880765@@ middle blocker Ariana Williams@@roster@@ earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention,@@see previous@@ and outside hitter Liz Brenner@@roster@@ was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.@@see previous@@
Oregon volleyball prepares for NCAA Tournament, Bergsma wins pageant
Daily Emerald
November 28, 2011
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