Ducks Set to Begin 2018 Beach Season This Weekend

EUGENE, Ore. - After a successful 2017 indoor season that saw Oregon advance to its seventh straight NCAA Tournament under first-year head coach Matt Ulmer, the Ducks will look to translate that success to the sand as they get set to begin their 2018 beach volleyball season this weekend.

Oregon will take on Portland in its season opener this Saturday, March 24, at 1 p.m. PT at Chemeketa Community College in Salem Ore. The Ducks will then travel to Irvine, Calif., for a pair of matches on Monday, March 26, against No. 7 ranked Cal Poly (2 p.m.) and Irvine Valley College (3 p.m.).

ULMER LOOKING TO BUILD UP BEACH PROGRAM
Matt Ulmer was given a four-year contract in November 2017, locking him in as the Ducks' indoor and beach coach through at least 2021. Ulmer took over as the beach head coach midway through last season, leading the Ducks to two wins in his first three matches at the helm. With the indoor squad on the rise, the Ducks peaked at No. 8 nationally during the season, Ulmer is looking to build the beach program up into a similar force. Ulmer has some experience building a beach program into a national power, having led Long Beach State to the national championship in 2013. In his first year as the 49ers' head beach coach, Ulmer guided LBSU to the NCAA championship to become the youngest head coach to win a Division I volleyball championship (indoor included, men and women). Ulmer has also coached five beach players who have won FIVB medals and four that have made main draws in AVP events.

AGOST ENTERS FINAL BEACH SEASON
Senior Taylor Agost was terrific for the Ducks as a senior on the hardwood during the fall, earning all-Pac-12 honors as well as honorable mention all-America honors. One of the Ducks' top returning beach players and one of four seniors, Agost will lead the Ducks into the spring as she looks to finish off her Oregon career on a high note.

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LOTS OF RETURNERS IN 2018
The Ducks' 2018 beach squad will look pretty similar to Oregon fans, as nearly the entire 2017 roster returns this spring. Maggie Scott and Ronika Stone both return after leading the Ducks with a 5-4 record as a pair last year, and senior Taylor Agost will be a big piece after shining for Oregon during the indoor season. Lindsey Vander Weide was a third-team all-American indoors in 2016 and will likely pair with Agost at one of the top courts for the Ducks. Willow Johnson, August Raskie, Lauren Page and Sumeet Gill are also back after contributing in 2017. Brooke Van Sickle was one of the UO's top beach players last year, but she will be out this spring as she works her way back from injury, along with Jolie Rasmussen.

NEW FACES JOIN THE DUCKS
There will be few new faces for the Ducks on the sand this spring. Janice Harrer, a former beach standout at the pro and college level, has joined Oregon as a volunteer assistant coach. Harrer played for UC Irvine during her collegiate years, and went on to enjoy a 18-year professional career that saw her secure 25 pro titles. Harrer was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2012. She will team up with Ulmer and assistant coach Dave Butler to help build up the Ducks' beach program.

Also joining the Ducks this spring are a pair of walk-on players. Josie Cole joins the Ducks as a freshman, coming to Oregon after originally committing to play at UC Irvine. A native of Lafayette, Calif., Cole was a four-year letter-winner at Campolindo High School, and has played beach for both SandLegs Beach Volleyball Club and Carioca Beach Volleyball Club. Another walk-on, Callista Wulff, earned a spot with the Ducks after an open tryout and will provide depth for Oregon in dual matches. Wulff hails from Laguna Beach, Calif.

PROGRAM HISTORY
The Oregon beach volleyball program enters its fifth season, and Ulmer and the Ducks are looking to achieve some new firsts in 2018. Oregon has not been able to surpass the three-win total so far, and is coming off a 2-9 season in 2017.

PAC-12 PAIRS TOURNAMENT ELIMINATED
The Pac-12 Beach Volleyball Championship will look a little different in 2018, as the conference has eliminated the Pac-12 Pairs Tournament. The Pac-12 Championship will now consist only of the team dual-match tournament, and will run from April 26-28. Stanford will host the 2018 Pac-12 Championship.

UP NEXT
After playing two in Irvine, Calif., on Monday, the Ducks will travel to Long Beach, Calif., for two matches on Wednesday, March 28, against Long Beach State and Saint Mary's.