University of Oregon
Washington State
Ducks Improve to 17-4 with Sweep of Washington State
11/03/06 | Women's Volleyball
EUGENE, Ore. ? The University of Oregon volleyball team checked another Pac-10 opponent off its list in 2006, sweeping Washington State, 3-0, in convincing fashion on Thursday night at McArthur Court.
The 24th-ranked Ducks (17-4, 7-4 Pac-10) overcame a rocky first set before cruising past the Cougars (14-12, 2-10) by counts of 34-32, 30-12 and 30-22, sweeping the season series with WSU for the first time since 1989.
“Going into this season, I knew we'd be good,” said second year head coach Jim Moore. “But if you had told me we were going to be 17-4 with defending national champion Washington coming to town (Friday), I don't know that I would have believed it.”
As has been the case during most of UO's run of six wins in the past seven conference matches, freshman middle blocker Sonja Newcombe played a key role, posting match highs of 14 kills and 16.5 points.
Dubbed “The Eraser” by a local reporter for her propensity to make up for team mistakes, the Lake Arrowhead, Calif., product has committed just three errors while recording 35 kills over her past two matches.
“Coach challenged me to hit the ball more efficiently and when someone gives me a challenge, I respond,” Newcombe said.
Oregon, which hit .380 (60-14-121) as a team, dominated on the front line as six players finished with double-digit points, including senior hitter Erin Little, who had 10 to go with nine digs and a .348 attack percentage.
“We knew we were the better team, but it was hard not to look past them with No. 4 Washington coming in tomorrow night,” Little said.
Sophomore hitter Mira Djuric had 10 kills, several of which ricocheted off of opponent body parts before hitting the floor. Freshman hitter Neticia Enesi put 10 balls away and hit .444 (10-2-18).
The block was particularly effective for the Ducks, who stuffed WSU nine times. Junior Karen Waddington had five total blocks, seven kills and 10.0 points, while hitting .462 (7-1-13). Senior Kristen Bitter contributed three blocks, eight kills and hit .467 (8-1-15).
Senior setter Heather Madison had her second double-double of the season with 10 digs and 25 assists. Freshman Nevena Djordjevic had seven digs and 19 sets.
Sophomore libero Katie Swoboda led all players with 19 digs for the Ducks.
Washington State received 10.0 points on seven kills and four blocks ? including two solos ? from sophomore hitter Brittany Johnson. Freshman libero Kelly Hyder had a team-high 13 digs.
Oregon will face one of its biggest home tests of the season of Friday against the No. 4 Huskies. The match, which is part of a double-header with the women's basketball team, will start at 8 p.m.
QUACK TRACKS: All 12 players made an appearance in the match ... UO's 17 wins and seven Pac-10 wins are the most since 1989 (21-9, 10-6) ... UW took the first meeting of 2006, 3-1, on Oct. 6 ... Oregon's four losses this season have all come against teams ranked No. 7 or higher.
