Oregon volleyball ended Colorado’s three-match home winning streak with a fifth-set nail biter 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11).
Oregon was able to break its string of three straight Pac-12 losses to advance its record to 11-10, 5-7 Pac-12 thanks to the work of Oregon’s upperclassmen. Senior Martenne Bettendorf totaled 17 kills for the Ducks while junior Amanda Benson covered the floor with 25 digs for the night.
When the teams switched during the fifth set, Oregon used its 8-6 lead to power through the final points and make the 15-11 win.
After Oregon struggled with a 3-1 loss to Utah last night, it was prepared to make a comeback in second match of its road trip tonight.
To start that comeback, Oregon’s Lindsey Vander Weide put up six kills by midway through the opening set, tying the score at 15.  Oregon went on a 5-1 scoring run at the end of the set to take the win 25-22, earning the first point of the match.
Colorado fought back in set two, leading the Ducks 8-2 before going on to win the set 25-22. At this point the teams were tied at one point apiece.
The same went for the third set. The Ducks made a push after the teams were tied at 18, but it was Colorado that finished the set with the 25-23 win.
At this point, the match was do-or-die for Oregon. If the Ducks did not win the fourth set and make it to the fifth, its match would be over.
Oregon’s setter Maggie Scott made her double-double for the night by the start of the fourth set with 20 assists and 10 digs. The setter assisted Taylor Agost to her 13th kill of the night, giving Oregon the 19-15 advantage. The Ducks went on to win the set 25-19, taking the match to the fifth and final set.
The Ducks were able to push though past difficulties and make the fifth set win. Bettendorf scored six of the team’s 13 kills in that set, giving Oregon the 3-2 win over Colorado.
Next up, Oregon returns to Eugene to take on Stanford this Thursday, with the match beginning at 8 p.m. Last time against Stanford, Oregon was only able to score a single set point, but after tonight’s victory, the Ducks look ready to compete with the Cardinal.
Follow Madison Layton on Twitter @MadisonLayton01