Oregon volleyball’s four-game winning streak came to an end after facing the Colorado Buffaloes on Friday night, suffering a loss in five sets, 25-17, 25-19, 17-25, 9-25, 15-10.
Sophomore Jolie Rasmussen and Colorado’s Frankie Shebby, a former Duck, recorded 14 kills each. Sophomore Ronika Stone followed behind with 13, while junior Lindsey Vander Weide and sophomore Willow Johnson each had 12.
The Ducks started off with simple errors scattered across the floor. After head coach Matt Ulmer called an early timeout behind at 5-3, Rasmussen picked up the pace with her kill, followed by senior Taylor Agost’s kill after Ulmer’s timeout at 13-7.
Leaving open areas with no coverage made it easier for Colorado’s hitters to surpass. Rasmussen led with four kills, while big blocks by Shebby and Naghede Abu helped the Buffaloes take a fast lead, ending the first set, 25-17.
Oregon was able to clean up its game in the second set and take an early 10-8 lead; however, the Ducks couldn’t maintain the consistency. Colorado eventually caught up with a 13-18 advantage and swiped the second set victory, 25-19.
Despite the Ducks’ slow start in sets one and two, they made no hesitation in taking the first lead with big kills by Rasmussen, Stone and Vander Weide. Ulmer commended Maggie Scott’s consecutive serves being a significant key to Oregon’s change in play.
“I liked our response. I thought Maggie’s serving was what started to turn things around for us,” said Ulmer.
Colorado’s timeout forced the Ducks to keep their intensity high. Blocks by Rasmussen and Lauren Page immediately after and kill error by Colorado’s Abu, the Ducks continued their comeback 14-21. Oregon pushed until the end for their first set win, 17-25.
With a 7-1 lead, the Ducks picked up where they left off in the third set. While Colorado attempted to catch up, Vander Weide’s tip allowed her to continue serving with a 10-5 advantage. A Colorado timeout was followed by Scott’s back-to-back service aces, helping the Ducks lead 17-7. Oregon was able to shut out the Buffaloes with a fourth set victory 9-25, going into a tie-breaking fifth set.
“Colorado responded well in the fifth,” said Ulmer. “Who we are is the third and fourth set team. What we can be is the first and second set team.”
Back-and-forth rallies between Oregon and Colorado made for a close start of the fifth set. Despite the Ducks’ attempt to make a comeback, the Buffaloes finished the match the way they started with a 15-10 victory.
The Ducks will face off against the California Bears in Berkeley on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
Follow Daphne Martin on Twitter @daaphnemaartin