Youth has served the Oregon women’s volleyball team well during the first month of the 2010 season.
Despite the graduation of outside hitter Sonja Newcombe, middle blocker Neticia Enesi, and setter Nevena Djordjevic from last season’s NCAA tournament team, the Ducks are 12-0 and ranked No. 16 in the country.
Oregon began its season in late August on a California road trip, winning matches at Santa Clara, UC Riverside, and Fresno State.
After returning home for a sweep of Florida Gulf Coast, the Ducks went back on the road and defeated Seattle and Portland State.
Starting Friday, Sept. 10, the Ducks hosted the three-day Oregon Classic, topping American and Siena, and on Sept. 15 the Ducks defeated Portland.
Several young players have stepped up to fill the void left by the seniors’ departure.
For the Ducks, freshman setter Lauren Plum checked in at No. 16 in assists, averaging 11.35 per set, as of the NCAA’s last statistical update.
Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Levig was tied for No. 29 in blocks with 1.33 per set.
Sophomore Katherine Fischer, a standout as a true freshman last season, has also been a central cog to the team’s success, recording four double-doubles of kills and blocks and eight matches of double-figure points.
A little veteran presence hasn’t hurt, either.
Senior outside hitter Heather Meyers is ranked second in the nation in aces per set (1.00), more than double her average of a year ago.
With a 14-kill performance against Portland, Meyers became the ninth player in Oregon history to surpass the 1,100 kill mark.
The Ducks traveled to New Orleans last weekend to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic, sweeping Tulane, Florida International and Sam Houston State, before returning home on Sept. 24 for the start of Pac-10 play in a weekend series against the Washington schools.
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