Oregon Ducks Volleyball: Oregon Claims No. 5 Going into NCAA Tournament

The Oregon Ducks claimed the No. 5 seed going into the National Tournament. The Ducks finished their season 16-4 in the Pac-12. This second-place finish is a best for the Ducks.

Because of being the No. 5 team in the tournament, the Ducks will host two first round games and one second round game.

Oregon will play the Northern Colorado Bears in their first round game. The Bears are from the Big Sky Conference. They went 14-6 in conference and defeated Idaho State in the Big Sky Championship.

August 27, 2011; State College, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks outside hitter Aliana Bergsma (2) scores a point past Minnesota Golden Gophers outside hitter Katherine Harms (8) in the first game at Rec Hall. Minnesota defeated Oregon 3 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: Rob Christy-US PRESSWIRE

One of the things Northern Colorado did very well in the Big Sky Championship against Idaho State was blocking. They notched a season-high 16.5 team blocks. Their leading blocker was Andrea Spaustat who recorded a career-high nine blocks in that game.

Offensively, the Bears can look to senior outside hitter Kelley Arnold and sophomore outside hitter Tambre Haddock.

Arnold and Haddock were first and second on the team with 19 and 13 kills respectively in the Big Sky Championship game.

However, the Ducks should have no problems with the Bears in their first round game. Expect senior outside hitters Katherine Fischer and Alaina Bergsma (redshirt) to provide the offense as they recorded 15 and 11 kills respectively in their last game of the season.

Defensive, Oregon will look to their freshman and junior middle blockers Ariana Williams and Canace Finley. Both Williams and Finley are tied for most blocks on the season with 66 blocks. In their regular season finale against OSU, WIlliams led the Ducks with four blocks.

The other first round game to take place in Eugene, Oregon will be between Pepperdine (20-11) and Dayton (26-4). Both first round games in Eugene will be played on November 30th.

Other Pac-12 Teams in the National Tournament

• Arizona State will play Oklahoma in Provo Regional
• No. 13 Washington will play Central Arkansas in Seattle Regional
• No. 2 Stanford will play Jackson State in Stanford Regional
• California will play North Carolina in Ames Regional
• No. 7 UCLA will play Long Island in Los Angeles Regional (Pauley Pavillion)
• No. 6 USC will play Fairfield in Los Angeles Regional (Galen Center)

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @RickyWidmer.

Follow the Autzen Zoo on Twitter @Autzen_Zoo and like us on Facebook at Autzen_Zoo.

Check out my other writings on the Illinois Fighting Illini blog, Writing Illini.