Ducks Open Season with Upset of No. 5 Nebraska

Friday, August 25

Gainesville, FL

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

1-0

Nebraska

0-1

Oregon

Nebraska

08/25/17 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box: #18 Oregon 3, #5 Nebraska 1

The 18th-ranked Oregon volleyball team kicked off the 2017 season and the Matt Ulmer era in emphatic fashion on Friday in the opening match of the VERT Challenge, taking down No. 5 Nebraska in four sets, 25-20, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23

By: Nate Krueger

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 18th-ranked Oregon volleyball team kicked off the 2017 season in emphatic fashion on Friday in the opening match of the VERT Challenge, taking down No. 5 Nebraska in four sets, 25-20, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23, at Exactech Arena.

The Ducks (1-0) made it a memorable debut for new head coach Matt Ulmer, securing the program's first win over a top-five team since 2012 and its first-ever win in the VERT Challenge.

"What a great first match," Ulmer said. "Nebraska's a great team and it was a really fun environment. I'm so proud of our team. The way we fought and the heart we showed, it was just so much fun. It felt like the team and I were one out there, working together as a single unit.

"This is something you dream about your whole life, and then you finally get your chance, and it didn't' disappoint. I am just so grateful to be around this team and so grateful for this opportunity. What a special night."

DUCKS WIN! #18 Oregon opens the Matt Ulmer era with a 3-1 victory over #5 Nebraska! What a way to start the season! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/7nNJOk43IW
— Oregon Volleyball (@OregonVB) August 25, 2017

How it Happened: It was all Nebraska to open the match, as the Cornhuskers (0-1) raced out to an early 10-2 lead. Ulmer used both of his timeouts to regroup his team, and Oregon fought back to pull even, 15-15. After back-to-back Nebraska points, the Ducks ripped off an 8-1 run and finished the set on a 23-10 run to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Ducks and Cornhuskers played to a 16-16 tie in a back-and-forth second set before the Ducks put together another run, this time a 4-0 stretch with four straight kills. Three Nebraska errors helped Oregon to set point, 24-20, and another Cornhusker error ended the set and helped the Ducks to a 25-21 set win and a 2-0 lead at intermission.

The Ducks used a 3-1 stretch after an 18-18 tie to take a two-point lead late in the third set, but Nebraska fought back to take control with set point, 24-22. Oregon pulled even with back-to-back points, but a service error and a Cornhusker kill after a long rally, in which senior libero Alex Hojnar made multiple stellar digs, ended the set and sent the match to the fourth.

Oregon was able to find some separation from Nebraska late in the fourth set, scoring three straight points to break a 19-19 tie. The Cornhuskers got within 22-21, but a kill by Taylor Agost and back-to-back points by Van Sickle clinched the set and the match, opening the Matt Ulmer era of Oregon volleyball in thrilling fashion.

The final point. What a battle! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/zHpWYMSmp6
— Oregon Volleyball (@OregonVB) August 25, 2017

Who Stood Out: Brooke Van Sickle had a great all-around match, putting down 11 kills with a career-high 22 digs for her first career double-double while also adding a career-high three aces. 2016 third-team all-American Lindsey Vander Weide was the team-leader with 14 kills and she added 11 digs for her first double-double of the season, while sophomore Willow Johnson set a career-high with 13 kills on .387 hitting. Agost finished with 12 kills, and August Raskie joined Vander Weide with a double-double (21 assists, 14 digs). Sumeet Gill led the Ducks with seven total blocks, and fellow middle Ronika Stone added eight kills.

What it Means: The Ducks' win over the Cornhuskers is their first over a top-five team since defeating No. 1 Penn State in four sets on Dec. 12, 2012, and the second win over Nebraska in program history. Ulmer emphasized the importance of showing up in big matches against elite competition, and he showed his composure with effective timeouts and adjustments to guide Oregon to its first-ever VERT Challenge victory.

Notable: Vander Weide recorded her 20th career double-double ... Three Oregon players finished with double-doubles in the season opener; last season, the Ducks' third double-double of the year came in their sixth match ... The Ducks are now 2-4 all-time against Nebraska, 66-319 against top-25 opponents and 32-183 against top-10 competition ... Ulmer is the first head coach in program history to beat a ranked opponent in their debut.

Up Next: Oregon will seek its second win over a top-five team in as many days on Saturday when the Ducks take on No. 1 Texas at 4:30 p.m. PT to close out the VERT Challenge.