It was a season of ups and downs for the Oregon women’s volleyball team. There were monumental wins against the likes of Stanford and Washington, and there were disappointing losses at the hands of Oregon State and eventually Kentucky to end the season.
Yet, perhaps the most lasting images of the 2009-10 season were those of three seniors who led the team both on and off the court. Sonja Newcombe, Neticia Enesi and Nevena Djordjevic embodied just about every leadership quality imaginable, while also producing dominant seasons on the court.
Newcombe and Enesi were both named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America team, Newcombe on the second team and Enesi on the third team.
Djordjevic, meanwhile, finished her career as Oregon’s all-time assist leader with 4,400 and was the table-setter behind many of Enesi and Newcombe’s powerful spikes throughout the season. Wins and losses may be forgotten, but there is little doubt these three seniors will be remembered forever among Oregon’s all-time greats.
That is not to say the games themselves were not memorable. The signature win of the season arguably came in an epic five-setter at home against Stanford. It was the first win for the Ducks against the Cardinal in 20 years, and one that a crowd of 1,717 would not soon forget.
The Ducks also picked up their first win against Washington since 2000, shocking the Huskies in five sets in Seattle. Not surprisingly, it was Newcombe who paced Oregon with 36 kills and a .382 hitting percentage.
In the postseason, Oregon made quick work of Clemson in three sets before being ousted in the second round by Kentucky. A disappointing ending, without a doubt, but one would be hard pressed to declare the season anything but a success.
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