Sunday, September 1
12:00 PM
University of Oregon
1-1,0-0Big Ten
3
vs
0
Long Beach State
0-2,0-0Big West
1
2
3
F
Long Beach St.
18
17
16
0
Oregon
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Sunday Sweep Gives Ducks First 2024 Win
09/01/24 | Women's Volleyball
No. 10 Oregon beat Long Beach State in three sets Sunday.
EUGENE, Ore. — Less than 48 hours after a slow-developing season opener that resulted in a three-set loss, Oregon volleyball started fast and finished strong Sunday to sweep Long Beach State for the Ducks' first win of the 2024 season.
No. 10 Oregon hit .471 in the opening set Sunday to set the tone for the sweep, two days after hitting .048 in the first set of a loss to No. 4 Pittsburgh. The Ducks did progress in their play over the course of that match, building momentum that carried them into Sunday's strong performance.
"Friday night was just a big learning experience, but we couldn't catch up in time," said UO junior Colby Neal, who led the Ducks against Beach with 13 kills and seven blocks. "We attacked it in practice. We all talked and realized all our errors are within our own control. Saturday (in practice) we were so focused, we had such great intent. I had a completely different feeling going into this match."
UO coach Matt Ulmer tinkered with the lineup of his new-look roster, playing senior transfer Michelle Ohwobete all the way around and inserting redshirt freshman Cristin Cline at setter. Each move was made primarily with defense and ball control in mind, and the Ducks were indeed much more efficient on offense from the start Sunday thanks to those improvements.
"Cris ran a great offense," Ulmer said. "She did a great job; her energy was really good. I thought she led the team."
How It Happened: Cline had 17 of her 41 assists on the day in the opening set, working the ball well to outsides Ohwobete and Mimi Colyer. Colyer had seven kills in the set and Ohwobete had five, and Ohwobete also was key to Oregon's serve receive after the Ducks surrendered 11 aces to Pitt on Friday.
Oregon also got a big boost at the service line from junior Maya De Los Reyes, who had the first two aces of her career during an 8-0 Oregon run that gave the Ducks a 22-16 lead in the set. De Los Reyes had four digs in the match along with the two aces.
"She spent a couple of years just being so selfless for everybody else," Ulmer said. "For her to have some moments out there, that makes me feel good. Just really excited for her."
The production from Colyer and Ohwobete in the first set opened up opportunities throughout the rest of the lineup, and Cline took advantage. Neal had five kills from the middle along with four blocks in the second set, and opposite Noemie Glover added four kills.
Cline entered the lineup in place of Friday's setter, JC transfer Roberta Purashaj, and both had encouraging moments over the course of the weekend.
"In practice we're really pushing each other to be better," Cline said. "It's not a me vs. Robbie thing; it's more we're pushing each other."
Neal's productive afternoon carried over into the third set, in which she had another five kills with four blocks. The Ducks never trailed in the set and took command with a 6-0 run that made it 18-11, with Ohwobete at the service line.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Colorado State on Friday (5 p.m., Mountain West Network).
No. 10 Oregon hit .471 in the opening set Sunday to set the tone for the sweep, two days after hitting .048 in the first set of a loss to No. 4 Pittsburgh. The Ducks did progress in their play over the course of that match, building momentum that carried them into Sunday's strong performance.
"Friday night was just a big learning experience, but we couldn't catch up in time," said UO junior Colby Neal, who led the Ducks against Beach with 13 kills and seven blocks. "We attacked it in practice. We all talked and realized all our errors are within our own control. Saturday (in practice) we were so focused, we had such great intent. I had a completely different feeling going into this match."
UO coach Matt Ulmer tinkered with the lineup of his new-look roster, playing senior transfer Michelle Ohwobete all the way around and inserting redshirt freshman Cristin Cline at setter. Each move was made primarily with defense and ball control in mind, and the Ducks were indeed much more efficient on offense from the start Sunday thanks to those improvements.
"Cris ran a great offense," Ulmer said. "She did a great job; her energy was really good. I thought she led the team."
How It Happened: Cline had 17 of her 41 assists on the day in the opening set, working the ball well to outsides Ohwobete and Mimi Colyer. Colyer had seven kills in the set and Ohwobete had five, and Ohwobete also was key to Oregon's serve receive after the Ducks surrendered 11 aces to Pitt on Friday.
Oregon also got a big boost at the service line from junior Maya De Los Reyes, who had the first two aces of her career during an 8-0 Oregon run that gave the Ducks a 22-16 lead in the set. De Los Reyes had four digs in the match along with the two aces.
"She spent a couple of years just being so selfless for everybody else," Ulmer said. "For her to have some moments out there, that makes me feel good. Just really excited for her."
The production from Colyer and Ohwobete in the first set opened up opportunities throughout the rest of the lineup, and Cline took advantage. Neal had five kills from the middle along with four blocks in the second set, and opposite Noemie Glover added four kills.
Cline entered the lineup in place of Friday's setter, JC transfer Roberta Purashaj, and both had encouraging moments over the course of the weekend.
"In practice we're really pushing each other to be better," Cline said. "It's not a me vs. Robbie thing; it's more we're pushing each other."
Neal's productive afternoon carried over into the third set, in which she had another five kills with four blocks. The Ducks never trailed in the set and took command with a 6-0 run that made it 18-11, with Ohwobete at the service line.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Colorado State on Friday (5 p.m., Mountain West Network).
Team Stats
LBSU
Oregon
Kills
26
44
Errors
18
11
Attempts
99
88
Hitting %
.081
.375
Points
34.0
61.0
Assists
24
42
Aces
4
7
Blocks
4
10
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballTrent Kersten | Postgame vs. Michigan
Sunday, November 23
Trent Kersten | Postgame vs. USC
Thursday, November 20
Trent Kersten | Postgame vs. Michigan State
Monday, November 10
Trent Kersten & Alanah Clemente | Postgame vs. UCLA
Friday, November 07
