There’s just something about Halloween and the Oregon State Beavers that fits so well for the Oregon volleyball team.
Maybe Oregon State’s orange and black isn’t a coincidence after all.
The Ducks (10-15 overall, 0-11 Pacific-10 Conference) and Beavers will square off tonight at Gill Coliseum in a post-Halloween match that is sure to bring out the taunts and treats.
The match — slated to start at 7 p.m. — is the second and final time this season the two teams will meet. The Beavers took the first match in a sweep early in October.
“We’ve beaten the Beavers in their gym in my past years so we’re looking forward to it,” senior Sydney Chute said. “Obviously last weekend (against California) we didn’t win, but we came really close to it.”
There is no love lost between the two Oregon teams, much like every Civil War contest played between Oregon and Oregon State (7-13, 2-9).
It is a series that has favored Oregon State recently, although the Ducks lead the all-time series, 52-33-1. The Beavers have won the last three contests and five of the last six.
Oregon came close last season at Gill in a four-game loss, taking the second set, 30-23, before bowing out.
“I definitely don’t like the Beavers,” said Chute, regarding her final Civil War contest. “It’s a great game, we get really fired up to play them, and we have a great time so I’m looking forward to it.”
A season after finishing 17-12 overall and 10-8 in Pac-10 play, the Beavers have fallen on hard times. Their 2-9 conference record is ninth-best in the conference, with the team’s only victories coming against the Ducks and California.
Oregon State is led by senior Megan McMillan, who is tops on the team with 244 kills, while sophomore Allison Lawrence is proving youth can be infectious with 236 kills.
The Beavers do have leadership in the form of Laura Collins, ranked second in the Pac-10 with 918 assists. In addition, senior Nikki Neuberger leads the Pac-10 in digs and is solid defensively.
“If we just apply our system all the way around, we shouldn’t have a problem,” Oregon senior Lindsay Closs said.
Oregon is looking to end a 32-match losing streak in conference play, a stretch that dates back to 2000. Since the Ducks’ last victory, Oregon has taken just one set in three matches against the Beavers.
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