Kersten's Ducks Earn First Win At MKA

Wednesday, September 3

Eugene, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

4-0,0-0Big Ten

Portland

3-1,0-0WCC

Portland

Oregon

Photo by: Mia Jacobs

09/03/25 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

The Oregon volleyball team improved to 4-0 on Wednesday with a sweep of Portland in Matthew Knight Arena.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — The record book will show a 3-0 sweep for the Oregon volleyball team over Portland on Wednesday night. The significance of the result went way beyond a single win.

Playing for the first time this season in Matthew Knight Arena, the UO women earned their first win at home under new coach Trent Kersten, and the first home win for a fresh flock of Ducks leading the program into this new era. Oregon improved to 4-0 with the win, a 25-21, 25-20, 25-23 sweep that had Kersten experiencing a range of emotions afterward.

"First is, I get to give my kid a hug after the match, who's running around in Duck gear; how cool is that?" the new UO coach said. "Second is, to experience 'Shout!' and to come out with a win and all that. And then the coach in me comes out; it's like, disgruntled coach who just gets a 3-0 sweep, just so classic. But we can be so much better than we are right now."

Valentina Vaulet led the Ducks with 11 kills in the match, while Ksenija Tomic, Alanah Clemente and Maria Tabacuks had eight each. The UO women hit .301 as a team while holding the Pilots to .214, and Clemente and Tabacuks each had three of Oregon's eight service aces.

The Ducks continued to run a 6-2 rotation quarterbacked by setters Cora Taylor, a senior transfer, and Kamden Mitchell, a freshman from Corvallis. After helping Oregon open the season with three wins on the road this past weekend, they helped lead the first win of the season at home Wednesday.

"I'm so happy," Mitchell said. "Being a Duck is probably like the biggest dream come true for me. I grew up watching; we used to sing 'Shout!' in my kitchen when my mom was cooking dinner. Like, I bleed green and yellow, and I am so thrilled to be here, and so grateful for the opportunity for this win. It was awesome."

How It Happened: The opening set was tied 5-5 when Portland went on a run to lead 12-6. The Pilots appeared to score again for a 13-6 lead, but Kersten challenged the call, the point was awarded to Oregon after video review and momentum shifted. The Pilots had a 16-12 lead when the Ducks took control from the service line, recording four aces over the remainder of the set to clinch it.

"Three aces a set is pretty elite," Kersten said of Oregon's average over the course of Wednesday's match. … "(Clemente and Vaulet) are our two kind of powers from the service line. It's pretty fun to watch."

Vaulet had a key kill in the opening set to break an 18-18 tie, as Oregon scored seven of the final 10 points of the set to clinch it. The veteran transfer came through in timely fashion again in set two, with a kill to break a 19-19 tie and spark a 5-0 run that put Oregon in control.

"She's that good," Kersten said. "She does it every single day in our gym. The fact she's done it four games in row now isn't an accident."

A kill by Holly McFadden put Oregon in command of the third set 22-18, before Portland rallied to tie it, 23-23. Kersten called timeout to focus his team, and the Ducks responded with kills by Tabacuks and Clemente to finish off their first win of the season on their home floor.

Notable: Mitchell's 20 assists led the Ducks on Wednesday, the first time in four matches sharing the setter role this season that she led the team. … Vaulet had double-digit kills for the third time this season, and has hit at least .300 in all three. … Tabacuks had 10 digs, the first double-digit performance for the Ducks this season. … Wednesday's win was No. 999 in the program's history.

Up Next: The Ducks host Colorado State on Saturday (6 p.m., B1G+).