Tuesday, September 19
Eugene, OR
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
vs
Oregon State
Ducks Take No. 8 Ranking Into Pac-12 Opener
09/18/17 | Women's Volleyball, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon moved into the AVCA top 10 for the first time since 2014 on Monday, a day before opening Pac-12 play at MKA against Oregon State (7 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network)
Oregon volleyball's hot start under first-year coach Matt Ulmer has not gone unnoticed.
On Monday, a day before the Ducks' Pac-12 opener, the program was ranked No. 8 in the coaches' poll. That's Oregon's first top-10 ranking since November 2014, and highest ranking since the 2013 preseason poll.
The Ducks open conference play by hosting Oregon State in Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). The UO women will put on the line a 7-1 record, the only blemish a four-set loss to then-No. 1 Texas.
"A lot of us were really confident going into the season," said sophomore Willow Johnson, who is hitting .352 through eight matches. "But we actually came out a lot stronger than I was expecting – our passing has gotten a lot better, and our offense has gotten a lot stronger from all different points."
Indeed, the Ducks boast six hitters averaging at least 2.0 kills per set – and a seventh, middle blocker Ronika Stone, averages 1.93 while leading the team with a .410 hitting percentage. Lindsey Vander Weide leads the Ducks with 3.39 kills per set, and the opposite side rotation of Johnson and Taylor Agost average 2.79 and 2.64, respectively.
The Beavers (10-2) are a bit more top heavy, with Mary-Kate Marshall averaging 4.90 kills per set, and three other regulars averaging at least 2.0. How OSU defends the Ducks, Ulmer said, will influence which hitters Oregon will lean on Tuesday.
"I don't know how you defend when you have six legitimate options on the floor," Ulmer said. "You just have to pick. Night by night it's going to be a different person, based on what the other team wants to do."
Oregon's hot start has been fueled by a culture of positivity Ulmer sought to instill upon taking over. Ulmer took advantage of the good vibes last week, when the Ducks didn't have a match, by devoting one day of practice to a self-critique.
If the Ducks were playing themselves the next day, Ulmer put to his team, what weaknesses would they attempt to exploit? The results proved illuminating, he said – and also predictable.
"We asked them, 'How was it?'" Ulmer said. "They all go, 'Oh, pretty spot on.'
"It's just good for them to be able to see what other people are seeing. I'm not trying to hide things. I also don't want to ruin their confidence, but I think it's important for them to be aware. I'd rather talk about it now than after we lose.
"I think we're in a pretty good place mentally and emotionally, that we can handle some of those corrections."
Johnson said the Ducks have worked to improve their serving, with Ulmer allowing an aggressive approach. Their passing has become more consistent as well, she said.
Over the past week, a point of emphasis has been making Oregon's block just as consistent. The Ducks want to be "really stable with our block," Johnson said, to help libero Alex Hojnar and her cohorts in the back row get proper positioning.
"If our blocks is doing better, it's easier for our defenders in the back to get some balls up," Johnson said.
On Monday, a day before the Ducks' Pac-12 opener, the program was ranked No. 8 in the coaches' poll. That's Oregon's first top-10 ranking since November 2014, and highest ranking since the 2013 preseason poll.
The Ducks open conference play by hosting Oregon State in Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). The UO women will put on the line a 7-1 record, the only blemish a four-set loss to then-No. 1 Texas.
"A lot of us were really confident going into the season," said sophomore Willow Johnson, who is hitting .352 through eight matches. "But we actually came out a lot stronger than I was expecting – our passing has gotten a lot better, and our offense has gotten a lot stronger from all different points."
Indeed, the Ducks boast six hitters averaging at least 2.0 kills per set – and a seventh, middle blocker Ronika Stone, averages 1.93 while leading the team with a .410 hitting percentage. Lindsey Vander Weide leads the Ducks with 3.39 kills per set, and the opposite side rotation of Johnson and Taylor Agost average 2.79 and 2.64, respectively.
The Beavers (10-2) are a bit more top heavy, with Mary-Kate Marshall averaging 4.90 kills per set, and three other regulars averaging at least 2.0. How OSU defends the Ducks, Ulmer said, will influence which hitters Oregon will lean on Tuesday.
"I don't know how you defend when you have six legitimate options on the floor," Ulmer said. "You just have to pick. Night by night it's going to be a different person, based on what the other team wants to do."
Oregon's hot start has been fueled by a culture of positivity Ulmer sought to instill upon taking over. Ulmer took advantage of the good vibes last week, when the Ducks didn't have a match, by devoting one day of practice to a self-critique.
If the Ducks were playing themselves the next day, Ulmer put to his team, what weaknesses would they attempt to exploit? The results proved illuminating, he said – and also predictable.
"We asked them, 'How was it?'" Ulmer said. "They all go, 'Oh, pretty spot on.'
"It's just good for them to be able to see what other people are seeing. I'm not trying to hide things. I also don't want to ruin their confidence, but I think it's important for them to be aware. I'd rather talk about it now than after we lose.
"I think we're in a pretty good place mentally and emotionally, that we can handle some of those corrections."
Johnson said the Ducks have worked to improve their serving, with Ulmer allowing an aggressive approach. Their passing has become more consistent as well, she said.
Over the past week, a point of emphasis has been making Oregon's block just as consistent. The Ducks want to be "really stable with our block," Johnson said, to help libero Alex Hojnar and her cohorts in the back row get proper positioning.
"If our blocks is doing better, it's easier for our defenders in the back to get some balls up," Johnson said.
Players Mentioned
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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