Oregon senior libero Katie O’Neil, seen here earlier in the season, recorded 20 digs in the final match of her career during the Ducks’ victory over Portland State Saturday.
Though the Oregon volleyball team didn’t see a lot of victories during the course of this season, it did end on a high note as the Ducks defeated Portland State in straight games at the Oregon State Showcase Saturday.
“I could not be happier for the team,” Oregon head coach Carl Ferreira said. “The Pac-10 season is long and competitive, and dealing with the loss of Lauren (Westendorf) was not easy.”
With the victory, Oregon (10-19 overall, 1-17 Pacific-10 Conference) ended its 15-match losing skid.
The story of the day was senior libero Katie O’Neil. She finished with a game-high 20 digs and finished her career with 1,005 digs.
Outside hitter Sarah Mason once again led the Ducks in kills, collecting a game-high 15. The sophomore has recorded at least 15 kills in four of her last five matches and finished the season averaging 4.01 kills per game.
Though the Ducks did earn a victory in their last match of the season, they didn’t fare as well in their last conference meeting of the year.
Oregon fell to rival Oregon State in three games during the 92nd meeting between the two universities in Corvallis Friday in front of 1,078 at Gill Coliseum.
During the first game, Oregon limited its errors to three, but allowed the Beavers a .421 hitting percentage with 21 kills and lost 30-23.
In the second game, the Ducks recorded 15 kills compared with the Beavers 13, but couldn’t limit their errors as they committed 10 and lost the game convincingly, 30-18.
Mason led the Ducks with her second double-double of the season with a match-high 16 kills and 11 digs. The Hilo, Hawaii native, who came into the match with Oregon State leading the Pac-10 in service aces per game, added four more aces to her season total.
Sophomore setter Heather Madison dished out 38 assists, which put her over the 1,000 mark for the season.
It is the second-consecutive season in which Oregon State has swept the Civil War series.
Despite the loss to the Beavers, Ferreira thinks their victory against Portland State was a perfect finish to the Ducks’ season.
“My top emotion right now is seeing our players and seniors end the season with a victory,” Ferreira said.
