The same old stories seem to be keep popping up for the Oregon volleyball team.
First, there’s the 28-match Pacific-10 Conference losing streak. Secondly, the team’s mantra of playing “Oregon volleyball” never changes, although in the long run, that’s all it should take to get that victory.
Against No. 19 Arizona (8-7 overall, 3-4 Pac-10) tonight at McArthur Court, that could be the case.
“We’re really just, day in and day out, working hard, and we know we are an amazing team with amazing potential,” sophomore Lauren Westendorf said. “We’re really optimistic and are really keeping our eyes on a win and playing hard and playing Oregon volleyball.”
The Ducks (10-11, 0-7) have seen an improvement in team defense this season, which, according to Westendorf, leads to a more potent offense.
Against the Wildcats, it will be important to keep Arizona on its toes. Even though Arizona is nationally ranked, it is a program that is sixth in the conference, having come off a surprising loss to California last weekend.
“The goal is to put yourself in position to win, and then you’ve got to make plays when the game is on the line,” head coach Carl Ferreira said.
Ferreira likened the match against UCLA to the team’s mentality against Arizona. The Ducks were close to taking Game 1 from the Bruins, but a late stand by UCLA forced a loss on Oregon. From then on, it was all UCLA.
Still, the Ducks are a much improved team from last season, and although they may not have shown it of recent, Oregon has shown a level of consistency.
“I think we’re significantly closer to succeeding, and our program is in place to give us a chance,” Ferreira said. “It’s just the experience level, little by little, of the athletes, to finalize and seal the deal.”
Ferreira pointed out that 70 percent of the offense has come from five Ducks — Westendorf and freshmen Jodi Bell, Kelly Russell, Dariam Acevedo and Jaclyn Jones. That offense is definitely young, but for the Ducks to get the much-awaited win, these five will have to make their presence known early and often.
“Our freshmen are playing as well as any freshmen in the Pac-10,” Ferreira said. “So, I like what we’ve done. The commitment level of the kids is staggering.
“I think these kids need to be applauded. If you don’t look just in terms of what society likes to look at, you’d be in awe of what these kids have done.”
Ferreira was dead on in his observation of Arizona and Oregon. The two programs match up closely in kills and assists, although both teams are at or near the bottom of the conference in each category.
Nevertheless, it is an even matchup, one that begins at 7 p.m. at The Pit.