Newcombe's Career Best Not Enough in Loss to No. 4 UCLA

Thursday, October 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

University of Oregon

14-5, 3-4Pac-10

UCLA

15-2, 5-1Pac-10

Oregon

UCLA

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

Newcombe's Career Best Not Enough in Loss to No. 4 UCLA

10/11/07 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

Los Angeles, Calif. ? The No. 19 Oregon volleyball team let critical leads slip away late in two separate games, as the fourth-ranked UCLA Bruins were victorious by a 3-1 score (29-31, 30-22, 24-30, 34-36) on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.

Oregon falls to 14-5 on the year and 3-4 in the Pacific-10 Conference, losing its last three matches to top 10 teams; No. 4 UCLA, No. 2 Stanford and No.10 California. In fact four of Oregon's five losses have been to programs ranked in the nation's top 10.

UCLA, now on a two-match winning streak, improves to 15-2 overall and 5-1 in the Pac-10.

“We had opportunities tonight that we just didn't take advantage of,” head coach Jim Moore said.

Oregon sophomore Sonja Newcombe had a match-high and career-best 24 kills, hitting .310 while adding 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the year. Junior Gorana Maricic, currently eighth in the nation in kills per game, totaled 21 in the match, and added 12 digs for her eighth double-double of the year. Her seven total blocks also bested her previous career high by three.

UCLA spread its attack between three of its top offensive leaders Alie Daley (19 kills, 11 digs), Dicey McGraw (18 kills) and Rachell Johnson (.571, 18 kills). Setter Nellie Spicer racked up 45 assists.

“This isn't going to be an easy loss to forget, but our job is to come back tomorrow and play against a very good USC team,” Moore said.

Oregon sophomore Neticia Enesi had arguably her best match of the year, setting a new season high with 12 kills. The middle blocker hit a team-leading .476 and also added six blocks.

The teams were fairly even in statistical categories as UCLA hit .295 compared to Oregon's .291. The Bruins totaled 79 kills to the Ducks' 74. Oregon did have a 13.0 to 9.0 advantage in blocks.

Junior Katie Swoboda had a match-leading 23 digs for Oregon.

Oregon let game one slip out of its grasp after amassing a 25-20 lead. The Ducks held game point at 29-26, but two Oregon errors and an UCLA service ace brought the game even. Katie Mills then put down a kill and Daley contributed an ace to solidify the comeback.

After letting the first game slip through their grasp, the Ducks dominated game two, scoring the first two points and never surrendering the lead until the 30-22 victory.

UCLA responded in the third game by hitting .500 (22-3-38) and winning the rubber game 30-24.

In game four, neither team had established more than a one-point edge until UCLA's 10-8 lead. The game had five lead changes and 19 ties.

Oregon took its first lead at 11-10, and eventually built an 18-14 advantage.

The Ducks last lead came at 23-20, as UCLA responded with three straight kills to even things, before taking a 27-24 lead after two Oregon errors and a block by Spicer and Johsnon.

The Ducks would not go easily as kills from Enesi, Newcombe and Maricic evened the game at 29-29. The Ducks were never able to regain the lead, but stayed within one point of the Bruins scoring their last point at 34-34 on a Nevena Djordjevic kill. Daley ended the match with consecutive kills for UCLA.

Oregon will play its fourth straight match against a top 10 opponent tomorrow night at No. 6 USC.

QUICK QUACKS: UCLA leads the series with Oregon 46-1...the Ducks are 0-4 against top 10 opponents in 2007 and 1-4 against top 25 opponents...this was Oregon's first road loss of 2007...the Ducks are now 1-3 in four-game matches; 1-2 when a match is even at 1-1; and 0-3 when trailing 1-2 entering the fourth game.