Oregon Volleyball: Ducks Drop Pac-12 Opener at Oregon State

After a strong start, Oregon Volleyball has come back to earth and are now at 4-6 on the season and 0-1 in Pac-12 play.

Oregon State found a way to push the Oregon Ducks to five sets on Thursday night in the conference opener for both teams. Oregon has played some big-time competition so far this season meeting and losing on the road to Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Penn State who were all ranked in the top ten at the time. With the losses, Oregon entered this week 24th after starting the season just outside the top ten of the AVCA Volleyball poll.

Oregon has also been without one of their best players in Willow Johnson wh has missed most of non-conference play. She played last night and had 18 kills and 5 errors. She hit .260 against Oregon State as she returns to form for the rest of Pac-12 play.

The Ducks saw a great start in Set 1 vs Oregon State winning 25-9. Oregon went on a 9-1 run and in the opening set, Johnson tallied 7 kills as the Ducks hit .556 in the opening set.

Despite hitting just .186 for the match, Oregon State rallied to win set two before Oregon came back to take a 2-1 lead in set 3, 25-20. Brooke Nuneviller helped Oregon to a 7-1 start in the third set Freshman Taylor Johnson also scored three points in four chances during the set.

Oregon State rallied again to take set four before winning the fifth set 15-3 to take the match and the first Pac-12 Conference game between the Ducks and Beavers in the Civil War.

Oregon had 23 errors in the match to Oregon State who finished with 21. Ronika Stone finished with eight kills and led the team hitting .353 for the match.

The Ducks return home to Matthew Knight Arena for their Pac-12 home opener on Sunday welcoming Utah at Noon.