The Oregon women’s Club volleyball team began its season last weekend finishing tied for third in a six-team tournament at home.
After two unofficial scrimmages with Oregon State, the tournament marked the first actual taste of game competition for this year’s young Oregon team. The team wrapped up the weekend behind Washington and Oregon State’s “B” squad.
“We played hard and had a lot of energy,” head coach Cody Banner said. “We just made too many errors, and that is what it came down to.”
In addition to Washington and two teams from Oregon State, the tournament included Eastern Washington and the Eugene Bible College.
Oregon drew rival Washington — the eventual tournament winner — in the first round match and lost game one 25-21 in a back-and-forth contest. Oregon’s inexperience was apparent as the squad was continuously hampered by miscues and errors.
Game two was a different story with Oregon coming out as the aggressor. The team managed an early lead and held on for an impressive 25-18 victory.
“We were really pumped up,” Caitlin McDonald said. “It was a really fun and exciting game to play.”
The deciding game three ended
in disappointment for Oregon as the errors that plagued them in game one returned.
The Huskies took an early 8-2 advantage. Oregon staged a comeback but eventually fell short as the Huskies squeaked by with an 18-16 victory to claim the game and match.
“Washington is a pretty solid team, and they were fired up to play us,” Banner said. “And we played well, just not well enough.”
One bright spot for Oregon was the play of middle blocker Michelle Burt, who finished the game with eight kills and only one error.
As a team, Oregon had nine service aces, but the errors were too much to overcome. However, errors were few and far between against Eastern Washington and the Eugene Bible College. Oregon swept the matches against both teams.
The squad quickly overwhelmed Eastern Washington 25-10, 25-8, in its second game of the tournament, notching the team’s first win of the season.
Sophomore setter Megan Beugli had 10 assists and four of Oregon’s 10 service aces for the match.
Oregon then cruised to two game victories against the Eugene Bible College, upping its season record to 3-1. Oregon won the first game, 25-7, 25-6, and the second game, 25-10, 25-7.
“Everyone played well and we put up good statistics, but they are not indicative because the competition was far below our level,” Banner said.
After three straight victories, Oregon got another shot at the Huskies but was again turned away, losing 26-24, 25-18.
Oregon and the Huskies were tied numerous times throughout the match, but once more it was a string of mistakes that allowed Washington to pull away each game and claim its second straight win over Oregon.
“We played well, but our communication was not as good as it was in the first game,” McDonald said. “We were a little scattered.”
Senior Christina Chun amassed 12 service aces throughout the entire tournament.
Overall, Oregon finished the day tied with Oregon State’s “A” team for third place. Washington, however, carried its momentum into the championship game and defeated Oregon State’s “B” squad.
“This was our first real chance to go out and play,” Banner said. “I know we can beat them (Washington) later in the year.”
Banner, after a two year break from the coaching ranks, returned this season to lead the team. He led Oregon to two straight National Championships in 2001-02 and brings with him a surplus of confidence, which will benefit Oregon down the road.
The next tournament for Oregon is the Far Westerns at UC Davis on Feb. 12.
“We have a legitimate shot at winning the National Championship,” Banner said. “It is just a matter of getting that swagger that comes with playing and winning matches.”

Luke Andrews is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald