It’s not possible. Is it? Is there an Oregon Daily Emerald jinx?
Maybe.
Seeing promising libero Katie Swoboda in obvious pain, the result of her head colliding with Kelly Russell’s knee against No. 2 Washington’s volleyball team Friday, didn’t help. Just that day I wrote a feature in the Emerald detailing her competitive nature and accompanying injuries.
Oh, and I mentioned a concussion she sustained her junior year.
She got her second concussion Friday and sat out the following night against Washington State.
Sports fans everywhere have heard of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx, where athletes and teams struggle after appearing on the national publication.
The night after her injury, Swoboda sat courtside. Actually, hovered is more appropriate. The freshman leaned forward, looking ready to sub in an instant.
Knowing Swoboda, if there had been another 24 hours, she probably would have tried to imitate her recovery from a concussion as a high school junior.
At that time, Swoboda was trying to get the ball and she ran into a wall. Swoboda tried to get up several times and go back in only to fall down each time. Doctors checked Swoboda and 46 hours later, her mom assured that she was OK, Swoboda played in a match.
Oregon’s team did what good teams do. They covered for Swoboda.
It wasn’t pretty. Both teams combined for 50 attack errors.
But Oregon not only won, it swept Washington State in three games. Game three featured six Russell kills, when Oregon relinquished a 21-19 lead and trailed momentarily 26-24, before winning 31-29.
In past games, such as the Civil War match, Oregon lost leads and didn’t recover. Oregon had seemingly insurmountable leads in two games and lost.
“To be able to execute in the moments where you kind of lose your confidence, cause in the past you haven’t executed – to finally get that is a huge confidence boost for everybody who has … been struggling with that,” Russell said.
Maybe there isn’t a jinx. Maybe if Oregon had lost, but they didn’t.
Saturday’s win gave Oregon the breakthrough they desperately needed. The strong start they wanted against Arizona State, against Arizona, against Stanford … you get the idea.
Beating Washington State isn’t going to save Oregon’s season. They play at No. 14 Cal today and Friday against No. 5 Stanford. Oregon returns next week to face No. 19 USC and No. 21 UCLA at McArthur Court.
The win has bigger implications. It gives Oregon and future teams confidence they can do it. Oregon can win in the Pac-10 Conference.
That fact alone makes any jinx an afterthought.
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