University of Oregon
10-7, 4-4
Washington State
13-6, 3-5
Ducks Stuff Cougars, Win in Four
10/18/15 | Women's Volleyball
PULLMAN, Wash. ? Propelled by one of the best defensive performances of the season, the No. 24 Oregon volleyball team defeated Washington State in four sets Sunday, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22.
How it Happened: The Ducks could not be stopped in the first set, coming out firing behind Taylor Agost early. Oregon was organized and effective throughout the set, staying in system while keeping the Cougars scrambling. The Ducks' lead grew as big as 10 points in the set before winning 25-17.
The Ducks hit .294 as a team in the first set but even as that number would drop later in the match, it was the team's defense which kept the Cougars in front. Oregon finished the match with 12.5 blocks, the second most this season behind the 13 it posted in a five set comeback win at George Washington. The Green and Yellow recorded 6.5 blocks in the third set alone, a big number for a team averaging 2.06/set this season.
The Ducks showed some resilience in the final set, leading 22-16 before the Cougars rallied to 23-20. The Ducks have had their share of issues late in sets this season but held firm on Sunday with Martenne Bettendorf recording the final two kills to put the Ducks over the top 25-22.
While senior Martenne Bettendorf put in a steady performance with a match high 15 kills, it was Kacey Nady who emerged for the Ducks late. Nady had been relatively quiet before exploding with six of her 11 kills in the final set.
What it Means: The match was a critical one for both teams who are fighting for NCAA positioning. Both entered the match with identical 3-4 conference records but opposite trends. The Cougars were coming off wins against Arizona State and Oregon State while also taking Arizona to five sets. The Ducks were able to slow down WSU and snap a two-match skid of their own.
Notes and Numbers: Chelsey Keoho led the team with 14 digs...it is the first time Keoho has led the team in digs this season...Kacey Nady recorded a team high six blocks...Oregon extended its streak of wins over the Cougars to 18 with the last loss coming in 2005.
What's Next: The Ducks will return home for only their third and fourth home matches of the season when they face UCLA, Friday at 6 p.m. and top-ranked USC, Sunday at 1 p.m.
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