Oregon volleyball coach Jim Moore began working to improve the program less than a week after volleyball season ended. Mentally, getting past one of his most difficult seasons as a coach took much longer.
Oregon closed at 12-18 overall and 1-17 in Pacific-10 Conference play last season.
Moore has stayed busy so far during the offseason, whether recruiting or making the difficult decision to cut multiple players from last season’s team.
Underclassmen Tasha Demkiw, Allyson Leavitt, Stephanie Alleman and Rachel Yurkovich have been let go. Kim McNally was a junior athletically, but was academically a senior and decided to finish her career with outgoing seniors Kelly Russell and Jaclyn Jones.
Moore offered freshman Erika Bartruff the opportunity to return in another role, but Bartruff decided to transfer instead.
Four freshmen signed during the early signing period. Nevena Djordjevic, Neticia Enesi, Sonja Newcombe and Lindsey Stone join core group Kristen Bitter, Mira Djuric, Erin Little, Heather Madison, Katie Swoboda and Karen Waddington.
Moore said he hopes to round out the roster with two transfers.
Additional players might walk on.
The new roster features two players, Enesi and Newcombe, who Arizona coach David Rubio said could start on any Pac-10 team. Swoboda has seen both play and said they “are nice, athletic, strong girls.”
Recruits have been drawn to come and make an immediate impact, Moore said.
“They know they’re going to come in; they know they’re going to play, and they know they have to play, and they think they want that now, until the pressure is on them,” he said. “We’ll see.”
The roster changes, designed to improve the team, should motivate remaining players and show there are consequences for not meeting expectations, Moore said.
“We had to create change,” Moore said. “I hope everybody’s figured out now. If we don’t perform, there’s going to be some major change.”
Not that making roster changes is easy. Relationships are made and bonds created.
“It’s incredibly difficult,” Moore said. “But it’s my job is to put a program together for the University of Oregon, and that is what needs to be the most important.”
Swoboda said she trusts Moore and the coaching staff.
“It’s refreshing to know that they are so committed and they are trying to make us the best we can be,” Swoboda said.
Whereas last offseason, players adjusted to Moore and his system, this time Oregon can focus solely on improving and other areas.
Last Monday, players spent time learning how to scout opponents and watch film.
Swoboda is working with the staff to hit more balls with her hands and dig another ball a game.
“Having small groups helps a lot,” Swoboda said. “You get a lot of one-on-one attention.”
Oregon, as a team last season, challenged USC, UCLA and Oregon State at McArthur Court, but came up short.
Moore said players should learn from last season rather than forgetting it. Oregon had uneven play last season and ended up in last place in the Pac-10 Conference, he said.
The Ducks are working to join the Pac-10 elite as consistent contenders. Moore is trying to draw players to make that happen.
“We have been very fortunate in recruiting thus far,” Moore said. “We just got to hope these kids come in and have an impact.”

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