Friday, August 30
7:30 PM
University of Oregon
0
vs
3
Pittsburgh
Photo by: Molly McPherson
Ducks Drop Top-10 Matchup To Open Season
08/30/24 | Women's Volleyball
Oregon overcame a slow start to go toe-to-toe with Pitt over the final two sets Friday at Matthew Knight Arena.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon bounced back from a slow start to play relatively even the rest of the night in Friday's top-10 match with Pittsburgh at Matthew Knight Arena, but ultimately the Ducks were swept in their 2024 season opener.
The No. 4 Panthers, a Final Four team a season ago, were commanding in the first set before the No. 10 Ducks, sporting a new-look roster, found their footing. Pitt ultimately won the match 25-12, 27-25, 25-23, with the Ducks fighting off two set points in the second and three more in the third before dropping each.
"I think our team learned a lot that first set about what it's going to take to be competitive at this level," UO coach Matt Ulmer said. "A lot of new pieces, but I thought we adapted well. We outhit them, we outblocked them and everything else after the first set. So those are all good signs. …
"There's a lot to learn, but I hope what we can take away is, if we don't show up, if we don't have that type of attitude that we're gonna have to really get dirty to make plays, the first set of 25-12 can happen. But when you have the right mindset, when we're really going for it, when we're playing our style, you're right there."
Junior Mimi Colyer had 11 kills to lead the Ducks, and Noemie Glover added eight. Onye Ofoegbu, Michelle Ohwobete and Sophie Gregoire added five kills each, while Ofoegbu and Colby Neal were in on four blocks apiece.
"As a team we now know what it takes — and it takes more than what we gave tonight," senior defensive specialist Daley McClellan said. "We can't think too much about this game; we've got to move forward to (Sunday's match against) Long Beach State."
How It Happened: Ulmer said he only settled on a starting lineup for Friday's match two days earlier — the latest point in his career — and that quick turnaround might have shown in the opening set. Most of the 11 aces Oregon allowed in the match came in the first set, including three straight as Pitt broke an early tie to go up 8-3 and run away with the set.
"A huge thing for us was just our ball control and serve receive," Colyer said. "There were a little bit of nerves. Pitt's also a really good serving team, and I think we just let that get to us."
The second set was a different story, as Oregon jumped out to a 6-4 lead and forced a Pitt timeout with the Ducks up 11-8. The Panthers used that break to effect, grabbing momentum to take an 18-14 lead, before Oregon rallied back to lead 21-19 with a 5-0 run capped by a kill from Gregoire. Pitt rallied back to win the set, despite the Ducks having an advantage in hitting, .265-.186.
"To me they're one of the contenders for the national championship, and we're playing point for point with them with a pretty brand new group," Ulmer said. "… Once we calmed down, once we figured out our serve receive a little better, we were playing point for point. We just didn't execute quite enough, but I liked our fight."
The third set was back-and-forth early, before Pitt broke an 8-8 tie with three straight points. The Ducks closed back within one at 12-11 and again at 16-15, but ultimately faced match point at 24-20. A back-row attack from Colyer sparked a 3-0 run to keep the Ducks alive, but ultimately the Panthers closed out the sweep.
Up Next: The Ducks host Long Beach State on Sunday (noon, B1G+).
The No. 4 Panthers, a Final Four team a season ago, were commanding in the first set before the No. 10 Ducks, sporting a new-look roster, found their footing. Pitt ultimately won the match 25-12, 27-25, 25-23, with the Ducks fighting off two set points in the second and three more in the third before dropping each.
"I think our team learned a lot that first set about what it's going to take to be competitive at this level," UO coach Matt Ulmer said. "A lot of new pieces, but I thought we adapted well. We outhit them, we outblocked them and everything else after the first set. So those are all good signs. …
"There's a lot to learn, but I hope what we can take away is, if we don't show up, if we don't have that type of attitude that we're gonna have to really get dirty to make plays, the first set of 25-12 can happen. But when you have the right mindset, when we're really going for it, when we're playing our style, you're right there."
Junior Mimi Colyer had 11 kills to lead the Ducks, and Noemie Glover added eight. Onye Ofoegbu, Michelle Ohwobete and Sophie Gregoire added five kills each, while Ofoegbu and Colby Neal were in on four blocks apiece.
"As a team we now know what it takes — and it takes more than what we gave tonight," senior defensive specialist Daley McClellan said. "We can't think too much about this game; we've got to move forward to (Sunday's match against) Long Beach State."
How It Happened: Ulmer said he only settled on a starting lineup for Friday's match two days earlier — the latest point in his career — and that quick turnaround might have shown in the opening set. Most of the 11 aces Oregon allowed in the match came in the first set, including three straight as Pitt broke an early tie to go up 8-3 and run away with the set.
"A huge thing for us was just our ball control and serve receive," Colyer said. "There were a little bit of nerves. Pitt's also a really good serving team, and I think we just let that get to us."
The second set was a different story, as Oregon jumped out to a 6-4 lead and forced a Pitt timeout with the Ducks up 11-8. The Panthers used that break to effect, grabbing momentum to take an 18-14 lead, before Oregon rallied back to lead 21-19 with a 5-0 run capped by a kill from Gregoire. Pitt rallied back to win the set, despite the Ducks having an advantage in hitting, .265-.186.
"To me they're one of the contenders for the national championship, and we're playing point for point with them with a pretty brand new group," Ulmer said. "… Once we calmed down, once we figured out our serve receive a little better, we were playing point for point. We just didn't execute quite enough, but I liked our fight."
The third set was back-and-forth early, before Pitt broke an 8-8 tie with three straight points. The Ducks closed back within one at 12-11 and again at 16-15, but ultimately faced match point at 24-20. A back-row attack from Colyer sparked a 3-0 run to keep the Ducks alive, but ultimately the Panthers closed out the sweep.
Up Next: The Ducks host Long Beach State on Sunday (noon, B1G+).
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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