Five players from the Oregon volleyball team have transferred or left the team for personal reasons, the Emerald learned Friday.
Heather Gilmore, Lindsay Murphy, Diana Blank and Erika Widmark — all currently juniors — as well as sophomore Alisa Nelson, have all left the team. According to senior Amanda Porter, Gilmore has decided to transfer to Idaho State, where her sister, Kylie, is currently a sophomore.
Gilmore declined to discuss the specifics on her decision, but did release a prepared statement through Idaho State regarding the move.
“I’m happy to be in Pocatello,” she said. “I’m looking forward to competing with my sister at Idaho State. I think this will be a great move for me. I enjoyed my time at Oregon and will cherish the memories I have from there.”
Derek Smolik, assistant director of sports information for the Bengals, said Gilmore has already enrolled in classes at Idaho State.
Murphy has also decided to transfer, and will attend Eastern Washington next season.
“She’ll start for us, for sure,” Eastern Washington head coach Wade Benson said. “In my opinion, she’s one of the best ball-control players in the nation.
“We’re really excited that she’s coming. We think she’s going to be a big factor for us. Lindsay fits into our system extremely well.”
Benson added that Murphy will attend Eastern Washington in the spring because she “wanted a chance to say goodbye to everybody.”
Nelson, Blank and Widmark’s reasons for leaving the team are still unknown, and could not be reached for comment.
“I think it was all for the best,” Porter said. “Everybody made personal choices. Everybody is happy.”
Oregon, which was set to lose three players from a squad that finished 1-17 last season, will now be left with just six returning players. Head coach Carl Ferreira will also have three freshmen joining the program next season.
Contact the sports reporter at [email protected].
Five Ducks leave UO volleyball team
Daily Emerald
January 23, 2003
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