Oregon Volleyball found their way into the Top 16 of the RPI and earned the opportunity to play at home to open the 2018 NCAA Tournament at home.
The Oregon Ducks finished the Pac-12 slate at 13-7, tying USC for second place. Behind Head Coach Matt Ulmer, the team also tied the highest finishing spot ever. They were rewarded on Sunday night and will host a four-team pod in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament taking place on Thursday and Friday at Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks will play the second game on Friday with the respective winners facing off Friday for a chance at the Sweet 16. New Mexico State, Baylor, and Hawaii will make up the rest of the teams coming to Eugene. Oregon remains the only ranked opponent in the Oregon Regional. New Mexico State and the Ducks do have a common opponent this season but have not faced each other.
New Mexico State(24-7, 12-4 WAC) plays in the Western Athletic Conference and beat Utah Valley to punch their ticket to Eugene. In August, Oregon topped Utah Valley in straight sets.
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Oregon is hosting for the first time since the 2014 season, but the team has had success in getting to the NCAA Tournament for a lot longer. This year’s bid marks the eighth straight time the Oregon Ducks have played in the postseason meaning all of their Seniors, including Lindsay Vander Weide have postseason experience. It should come through as a big benefit for this team now that the records are reset to zero.
Oregon opened the season facing some of the best teams in the country. It is now one game at a time and they will certainly see some of those teams again. The Oregon Ducks and New Mexico State Aggies meet in the second game on Thursday(slated for 7 pm Pacific Time) The opening game pits Baylor against Hawaii at 4:30 pm Pacific Time. Winners meet on Friday at 7 pm Pacific Time
The matches in Eugene were not selected for television, but can be heard on rthe adio in Eugene on KWVA 88.1 FM.