University of Oregon
16-8, 6-8Pac-10
California
17-8, 10-5Pac-10
No. 12 Bears Clip No. 16 Ducks, 3-1
11/16/09 | Women's Volleyball
* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right, a link to updated season/career stats is available above.
BERKELEY, Calif. - The No. 16 University of Oregon volleyball team (16-8, 6-8) closed its Bay Area trip with a 3-1 loss at No. 12 University of California (17-8, 10-5) Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Bears continued their winning ways with their eighth win in the last nine matches, thanks to Sunday's Senior Day 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16 decision. Sunday's outcome also evened the season series after Oregon's 3-0 sweep in the earlier meeting in mid-October - its first vs. Cal since 1990.
Junior outside hitter Heather Meyers paced UO Sunday in kills (13) for the third time in the last four matches, and her team-high 11 digs marked her fifth double-double of the season and ninth of her career. She also posted her 35th ace of the season and 105th of her career – eighth-most in school history and one away from the seventh-best mark.
Senior outside hitter Sonja Newcombe tied the team high in digs (11), and her nine kills left her one shy of her 11th double-double this season and 45th of her career. The Lake Arrowhead, Calif., native also added five blocks - a season high that was one better than the four she had notched five times previously this year.
Sophomore middle blocker Dana Stephenson posted six kills, three blocks and hit a team-high .545 in her 11 attempts – a career high that improved on her .526 mark the opening weekend vs. Missouri State.
Senior defensive and serving specialist Amanda Westrick landed a team-high three aces – one shy of her season best in a five-set match at Oregon State in early October.
Among other notable stats; freshman outside hitter Katherine Fischer added eight digs and six kills; senior setter Nevena Djordjevic racked up 43 assists, six digs, one ace and three blocks; and senior middle blocker Neticia Enesi ranked second in kills (11), and added three blocks and two digs.
In the team comparison, Cal held advantages in kills (57-46), blocks (13-8), hitting (.341-.168), assists (53-45) and digs (52-45); and Oregon led the aces category (6-4).
Two-time returning All-American and senior Hana Cutura led the Bears in hitting (.442), kills (28), points (31) and aces (2) and added 10 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Tarah Murrey topped the home squad in blocks (5), and added 16 kills and eight digs, and other category leaders included senior libero Kristen Kathan (18 digs) and junior setter Carli Lloyd (54 assists) who cemented the double-double with her 10 digs.
Looking ahead to its penultimate weekend of the regular season and final home appearances, Oregon hosts No. 17 USC and No. 6 UCLA next Friday and Saturday, November 20-21. Both matches start at 7 p.m., and the latter match will serve as Oregon's Senior Day.
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