Many words could be written to describe No. 18 Oregon’s shutout of No. 7 Washington@@http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/avca_coaches@@ Saturday night. Oregon’s offensive efficiency could be commended. The Ducks’ heart in the face of adversity could be praised. Coach Jim Moore’s@@goducks@@ tactics could be highlighted.
But more than anything, the Ducks made a statement not found on any stat sheet: Despite the lack a single senior on its roster, this squad is a contender.
“We beat Washington,” Oregon middle blocker Ariana Williams@@roster@@ said. “We’re not such little Duckies now.”
Rather, Oregon will likely be ranked in the top-15 in the next American Volleyball Coaches Association@@CE@@ poll and on their way to getting back into the NCAA tournament after being snubbed a year ago.
Although Oregon wasn’t necessarily dominant in victory, the Ducks made big plays at crucial moments. In a back-and-forth first set that featured 8 lead changes@@changed from 15 to 8, http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=234&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205321167@@, Oregon got back-to-back kills from Liz Brenner and Savannah Paffen@@both on roster@@ to break a 25-25 tie@@see above link@@.
The drama heightened in the second set. Washington took a commanding 22-16 lead late, only to see the Ducks use an 8-2 run to send the set to extra time.
“I think we really wanted to beat them,” outside hitter Alaina Bergsma@@roster@@ said. “We came back with our energy.”
Playing with a commanding lead, Oregon broke Washington’s spirit in the third set. The Ducks used a 10-2 run to break open what was a tightly-contested frame and send the crowd of 1,340@@on stats@@ home happy.
“My definition of playing great is that we’d win in three (sets) and have four people in double digit kills,” Oregon head coach Jim Moore said. “And that’s exactly what we had, so I’m thrilled to death.”
An efficient offense was the catalyst for the Ducks’ impressive performance. Oregon improved its hitting percentage by 94 points from the team’s 3-0 loss to Washington@@schedule@@ earlier this year. Bergsma (20 kills, .298 hitting percentage@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=234&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205321167@@), Brenner (12, .267@@see previous link@@), Williams (11, .529@@see previous link@@), and Katherine Fischer@@roster@@ (10, .036@@see previous link@@) each contributed to the improvement, which was driven by Oregon’s sharp passing.
“Obviously it’s always the passing,” setter Lauren Plum said. “Whenever we have a great offense, it’s always the passing is right.”
Not much went right for Oregon in the first two sets of their 3-2 victory over Washington State@@schedule/results@@ (11-11, 3-9 Pac-12)@@changed from 12-10, 4-8, http://www.pac-12.org/SPORTS/Volleyball/Standings.aspx@@ the previous night. Although the Ducks pulled out a wild 21-25, 17-25, 25-8, 25-13, 15-12 victory@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=234&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205320370@@, Moore was livid with the team’s start.
Oregon hit only .205 and .000 in the first and second sets@@see previous link@@, respectively, while playing with little energy or urgency.
“That’s unacceptable,” Moore said. “To come out like that is unacceptable. It’s absolutely unacceptable. We came out and just assumed it was going to go away, and it will go away in a hurry if you come out like that.”
After a stern talk in the post-second set intermission — “I yelled a lot, I was unhappy,” Moore said — Oregon finally found its rhythm.
The Ducks were completely dominant in the third and fourth sets, outhitting the Cougars .321-.167 and .586-.115@@see previous link@@, and generally outclassing their Pac-12 foes.
“We had more energy, and we became aggressive. We served tougher,” Moore said.
Despite those gaudy numbers, the Ducks were still in danger of suffering an upset as Washington State gained a 9-5 lead in the decisive fifth set@@see previous link@@. However, the Ducks went on a 10-2 run to end the match and secure victory.
“We stepped it up and took care of business,” Brenner said.
Bergsma hit .277@@see previous link@@ and led Oregon with 18 kills@@changed from 17, http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=234&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205320370@@, Brenner hit .200 and had 15 kills@@see previous link@@, and Fischer hit .242 and had 13 kills@@see previous link@@.
Oregon will return to play at 7 p.m. next Friday when they host Utah at Matthew Knight Arena@@schedule@@.
Oregon volleyball upends Washington, Washington State
Daily Emerald
October 22, 2011
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