Ducks Sweep UCLA at MKA

Friday, October 18

Eugene, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

6-10, 2-5Pac-12

UCLA

9-7, 4-3Pac-12

UCLA

Oregon

10/18/19 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Oregon 3, UCLA 0 Updated Overall Stats

EUGENE, Ore. – Willow Johnson and Brooke Nuneviller combined for 20 kills to lead the Oregon volleyball team to a 25-23, 26-24, 25-16 sweep over UCLA on Friday night in front of 1,667 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.

The victory snapped a four-match skid for the Ducks (6-10, 2-5 Pac-12) and marked their third straight win over the Bruins.

"We've been playing really hard and doing some good things," head coach Matt Ulmer said. "Against Washington, we were up 2-0, and tonight, we're up 2-0 again so I really wanted them to feel some success by getting the victory. It was great to see them come out strong in the third set. I thought it was the best volleyball we've played this year."

How it Happened: Behind five early aces, UCLA (9-7, 4-3 Pac-12) jumped out to an 11-2 advantage that saw Ulmer use both of his timeouts. The deficit was eight—UCLA, 15-7—when the Ducks and the home crowd came alive with a 5-0 run capped by a Nuneviller ace. With the visitors leading 18-13, Oregon scored six of the next seven points to pull even at 19-all on an ace by Bea Wetton.

The Bruins responded with a quick surge to take a 23-20 lead but Nuneviller stopped the run with her third kill of the frame. After a fifth first-set kill by Johnson and a service ace by Kylie Robinson, the score was tied again. The Ducks took their first lead at 24-23 when UCLA was called in the net, and on the next play, an attack error by the Bruins' Mac May completed the comeback and gave UO the 1-0 match lead.

"We really need a game like this to flip the switch for us," Nuneviller said. "We're so young and talented, and the more time we get together, it's going to help our chemistry on the court. I think that's the key for us."

After the wild swings of momentum in the opener, the second set featured 14 ties and six lead changes compared to just two ties and one lead change in the first.

Down 24-22, the Ducks saved two set points on their way to four in a row to win the second. Back-to-back kills from Ronika Stone and Taylor Williams erased the Bruins' set points and tied the score. Oregon took advantage of consecutive UCLA attack errors on the next two points to secure the set win.

With a two-set lead in hand, Oregon turned up the heat in the third with a .444 hitting percentage (13-1-27) in the set. The Ducks' lead was down to 12-11 when the team scored nine of the next 11 points to stretch the advantage to 21-13. The teams traded points until Oregon arrived at match point after a UCLA service error. Williams ended the next rally—and the match—with another kill, her eighth of the night and third of the set.

Who Stood Out: Johnson put down a team-high 11 kills and Nuneviller finished the match with nine kills and 13 digs, just shy of another double-double. Under the direction of setters Elise Ferreira and Robinson, Oregon had a balanced attack with at least five kills from six players. Williams and Ronika Stone had eight and six kills, respectively, followed by five each from Karson Bacon and Abby Hansen.

Freshman libero Georgia Murphy led all players with 17 digs, her high for a three-set match this season. Bacon had a match-high five total blocks.

Up Next: Oregon is back on its home floor Sunday to host USC at 12 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks).