Through the first eight games of non-conference play, Oregon volleyball (7-1) has only conceded eight sets. Letting up one set per game is an easy route to victory in most cases. This season had one central narrative before it got started: this is an inexperienced roster with no experience playing together under a coach in his first year with the program. In other words, the Ducks were not expected to make much of a splash this season.

10 out of the 16 players on the roster have had no experience playing volleyball at the Division I level, which created a hurdle for newly-appointed head coach Trent Kersten. The six that did have experience, however, have been important contributors to a successful beginning of the season for Oregon.

The main portion of the squad that the Ducks needed to replace this offseason was their stats on offense, mainly points and assists. For scoring, Michigan transfer and junior opposite Valentina Vaulet is the strong-arm of the group. She leads the team in total points (135.5), points per set (4.37), kills (108) and kills per set (3.48). Vaulet’s ability to high-point the ball and send thunderbolts at the opposing defense is a crucial part of Kersten’s fast-paced offense.

Having players that have experience in that offense has also helped. Kersten brought over graduate se- nior outside hitter Sophia Meyers from Loyola Marymount University, and she has shined in the opening stretch of games. Meyers started the season quiet, but rebounded with a strong showing during the most recent road trip to Long Beach. Meyers was second in kills to Vaulet in the first two games of the weekend with 14 and 11 kills, respectively, but went on to lead the team with 16 in the final game, which was a four-set win over the University of California-Riverside Highlanders.

The other part of Kersten’s offense, assisting, came with Butler University transfer senior Cora Taylor, who is the Ducks’ new setter. Taking over the role of the team’s setter was always going to be done by someone with experience and Taylor has brought it in droves.

Her poise in facilitating the offense and getting the ball to her teammates in advantageous positions is what makes the whole thing work. Taylor leads the team in both assists (218) and assists per set (7.03). Behind her is freshman Corvallis native Kamden Mitchell, who also gets a considerable amount of time at the position due to Kersten’s affinity for two-setter lineups. Mitchell is  second in assists (97) and assists per set (4.41). Even though she doesn’t quite reach the numbers of Taylor, Mitchell’s stats are a testament to the amount she does play and contribute to winning.

That all being said, Oregon is in the Big Ten, which is one of the toughest conferences in the country. The Ducks still have a lot of room to improve, according to Kersten, and entering conference play, which begins on Sept. 26, is no small task.

Wins are wins, however, and for an inexperienced team, a 7-1 start only conceding eight sets is pretty hard to beat. While it’s not what one would expect from a team as inexperienced as Oregon, the Ducks are soaring as they get into the real bulk of the season.