Yet another Oregon volleyball player has announced her departure from head coach Carl Ferreira’s squad.
Freshman Dariam Acevedo, a key component of Oregon’s offense last season, said Friday she is leaving the team because of financial reasons.
“This was a great experience,” the Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico- native said. “This was the first time playing for a team outside my country. The Pac-10 is one of the best places to play volleyball.”
Acevedo paced the Ducks last season, playing in 19 matches after sitting out the first part of the season, after playing with the Puerto Rico National Team. When she came to Oregon, Acevedo stood out, averaging 3.31 kills per game and posting 24 service aces.
Acevedo posted the team’s season high of 23 kills Oct. 18 against Arizona State, a match Oregon narrowly lost in five sets.
She also was instrumental in Oregon’s only win of the Pacific-10 Conference season. She had 11 kills in Oregon’s four-game victory against Oregon State.
“I think it’s unfortunate,” Ferreira said. “She’s a great human being and a talented player. She meant a lot to the recruiting efforts we put in, so it’s always disappointing in that regard. So you’re losing a talented athlete and a family member.”
Acevedo made it clear that her decision had nothing to do with the loss of five players from last season in January. The group left the team after Oregon’s 1-17 conference season, and two — Lindsay Murphy and Heather Gilmore — have since transferred to other schools.
“(Ferreira) is always trying to make the best decisions for the team,” Acevedo said. “You, as a player, have to respect your head coach because he is like the captain of the boat. You have to do what he says because it’s always with the best intentions.”
Acevedo said she originally came to Oregon because of the school’s architecture program, but decided during the year to change her major. But because of her family’s economic difficulties, she said, they asked her to come home.
Because she respects her family’s decision and understands the situation, there was no other decision that she could make even though she valued her season with the Ducks.
Acevedo said she plans on competing for the Puerto Rico National Team again and most likely for the University of Puerto Rico.
“It is for the good of my family,” she said.
Jaclyn Jones, Acevedo’s roommate and closest friend on the team, said she will miss seeing her on the McArthur Court floor and off it as well. Jones is from Fort St. John, British Columbia, and the duo constituted Oregon’s foreign contingent.
Jones said she has known of Acevedo’s decision for three weeks.
“It’s only setting in right now, though,” Jones said. “She was a key player because she knows so much about the game. Me, being her roommate, it means a lot to me.
“I expect her to do great things. I expect her to make a huge impact because she’s a great player.”
With the loss of Acevedo, Oregon now has five returning players — two juniors-to-be and three sophomores-to-be. Ferreira said there will be seven newcomers to the team next season, four of which have signed national letters of intent.
He added that Oregon’s five returners next season all are under scholarship, which means that of the 12 players expected to wear a Duck uniform next season, three will be walk-ons.
“We’re right where we’ve always planned to be in terms of the progress we’re making,” Ferreira said. “Attrition is probably a natural component of collegiate athletics, and really you play today, and prepare for tomorrow. You say that easier than you accept it sometimes, but that’s the way we try to approach it.”
The Ducks begin their 2003 season on Aug. 29 at the North Carolina Tournament before beginning their Pac-10 season Sept. 18 against California at McArthur Court.