Late Runs Spoil Match For UO

Friday, November 15

Eugene, OR

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

7-17,3-12Pac-12

Arizona

13-14,3-12Pac-12

Arizona

Oregon

Photo by: Brielle Moseley/GoDucks.com

11/15/19 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

The Oregon volleyball team gave up sustained rallies in each set to Arizona on Friday, allowing the Wildcats to come away with a victory.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon volleyball team dropped its fourth match in a row Friday, a 25-20, 27-25, 25-21 loss to Arizona before 2,313 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks (7-17, 3-12 Pac -12) struggled to side out for key stretches of each set. Arizona had sustained runs that put the Wildcats in control of each set, despite a spirited home crowd cheering on Oregon.

"We have so many fans that come out for us, every home game, and we haven't given a reason for them to," said UO senior Ronika Stone, who addressed her teammates on the court after the match. "It's amazing that Duck fans keep showing up, and I just told (the team) to look around and see who's fighting for us when we're not fighting for ourselves, and to give ourselves a chance and leave it all out there."

How It Happened: The Ducks welcomed setter Kylie Robinson back from a two-match absence due to injury, and in the early going Friday they looked more like themselves. An ace by Brooke Nuneviller tied the opening set 6-6, sparking a run that culminated in Willow Johnson and Abby Hansen teaming up for a block that made it 9-6. A kill by Taylor Williams got the lead back to three at 12-9, but from there Arizona scored seven in a row. Nuneviller had kills to get the Ducks back within two twice, at 17-15 and 18-16, but the Wildcats scored the next four in a row to build a lead they sustained to win the set.

Set two began similarly, with Johnson recording three kills during a run that broke a 4-4 tie and put Oregon up 9-4. The lead was back to five on yet another kill by Johnson for a 12-7 lead, but Arizona scored seven in a row to lead 14-12. This time, the Ducks fought back, and an ace by Bea Wetton put them up 15-14. The teams went back and forth, with Oregon opening up a two-point lead a couple of times, including on a kill by Stone for a 24-22 lead. Arizona fought off match point three times, and won the set on an ace that hit the back line.

Oregon took early control of the third set with a 6-0 run, capped by a Robinson dump over the net and a Nuneviller kill for a 10-6 lead. Arizona fought into a lead at 11-10, and the teams went back and forth for several points. A kill by Stone gave Oregon a small cushion at 18-16, and Stone had another kill for a 19-17 lead. But yet again Arizona went on a run, scoring five straight for a 22-19 advantage before winning the set and the match.

Who Stood Out: Stone and Johnson each led the Ducks with 12 kills, and Stone had no errors on 24 swings for a .500 hitting average. Johnson was efficient as well, with just two errors on 26 swings for a .385 hitting average. Nuneviller added eight kills with 14 digs, while Hansen paced the Ducks up front with five blocks. Robinson had 16 assists in her return, which allowed Oregon to revert back to a 6-2 rotation; Robinson's fellow setter Elise Ferreira had 19 assists.

Quotable:
Ronika Stone, UO senior hitter
On Oregon's young team having to learn how to protect a lead
"I think people do tend to tense up, but I think our setters are really good and I think each hitter can put the ball away from 10 feet off the net. So I really think they need to start taking that into perspective and know that we are a really good team. You don't need to a pass a perfect ball or dig a perfect ball to run our offense. Once that clicks — which, it's just crazy that it hasn't yet — but it does come with youth, that they don't believe in themselves. We keep trying to instill that belief in them. Once we just believe we can be really good regardless of the situation, then we're solid. But you need to prove that to yourselves first."

Up Next: The Ducks wrap up a four-match homestand against Arizona State on Sunday at 1 p.m.