Thursday, November 7
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
17-5,9-4Big Ten
0
vs
3
Nebraska
23-1,13-0Big Ten
1
2
3
F
Nebraska
25
26
25
3
Oregon
12
24
18
0
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Record Crowd Sees Ducks Drop Match To Nebraska
11/07/24 | Women's Volleyball
No. 12 Oregon hosted a matchup of top-15 teams Thursday and fell in three sets to the No. 2 Cornhuskers.
EUGENE, Ore. — Matthew Knight Arena provided a big-time example Thursday of what life in the Big Ten Conference will be like for the Oregon volleyball program.
The No. 12 Ducks were part of a matchup of top-15 teams Thursday, hosting No. 2 Nebraska — one of six top-15 teams nationally from the Big Ten. And Oregon hosted the Huskers before an MKA-record crowd of 8,566 fans, the kind of elite atmosphere common in the Big Ten, and which saw the visitors come away with a three-set win.
Shifting on the fly after a midweek injury to senior defensive specialist Daley McClellan, the Ducks employed a 6-2 rotation Thursday and took some time to get adjusted, dropping a 25-12, 26-24, 25-18 decision to the Huskers.
"Nebraska is really good, and we had to play our best, or (at least) cut down on our errors and keep attacking," UO coach Matt Ulmer said. "Second set, we did a nice job of that, and that's what made that a competitive set. But the rest, we just gave too many points away. They don't give you much, so you've got to create all the things for you on your own side, and we just couldn't sustain that long enough."
The crowd, which featured a healthy dose of red-clad Nebraska fans, shattered the previous arena record for volleyball, of 7,334 set against Oregon State on Sept. 22, 2023. It was just the third crowd of 6,000 or more to watch the Ducks at MKA.
"Personally I just love seeing the sport of volleyball grow and seeing more people being engaged," UO senior Onye Ofoegbu said. "It looked like Christmas tonight (with all the red and green in the stands). It was awesome. No matter who's in the crowd, it's just awesome to know that people are willing to take time out of their day to watch us play and watch us do what we really love. So it's awesome."
How It Happened: The first set was an adjustment period for the Ducks, in the absence of McClellan and the use of a new rotation. Oregon hit minus-.031 in the set, which Nebraska broke open with five straight points to lead 11-6 and then all but clinched with another six straight to go up 18-8.
The second set was a different story, as the UO women held Nebraska to .100 hitting, and outdid that by hitting .125 themselves.
"Trying to build those relationships kind of mid-game was difficult," said UO junior Mimi Colyer, who had 13 kills on 52 total attacks. "I think we figured it out. And it's nice being able to — the fact that we are able to do that with the depth in our program, it's really nice to see."
Oregon trailed 6-3 early in the second before scoring five straight points to take the lead. That run included two blocks by Colby Neal, who had three kills and three blocks off the bench for the Ducks.
"I thought Colby was really great tonight," Ulmer said. "That's a great version of Colby, and if she brings that night in and night out, then that's a huge answer for us. So I was happy for her."
Nebraska broke out to a 17-14 lead in the second set, before Oregon fought back into a tie at 18-18. A kill by Colyer tied it again moments later at 23-23, and the Ducks appeared to reach set point when Noemie Glover followed with a kill off a Huskers touch. But Nebraska challenged the call, the ball was ruled out with no touch, and the Huskers went on to take the set.
The third set was similarly competitive early, with Nebraska scoring three straight to lead 11-8, and Oregon responding with three points of its own to tie it — two from Michelle Ohwobete, who finished the night with eight kills. But the Huskers responded with six straight, and Oregon got no closer than four points the rest of the way to drop the set and the match.
Notable: Colyer's ace in the first set was No. 108 in her career, tying her for 10th in UO history. … Ulmer said of McClellan that the Ducks are "hoping that Daley will be back some time soon, but she's out for right now." … All-time UO great Brooke Nuneviller was in attendance for the match and was recognized on the court during the first set.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Minnesota on Saturday (1 p.m., Big Ten Network).
The No. 12 Ducks were part of a matchup of top-15 teams Thursday, hosting No. 2 Nebraska — one of six top-15 teams nationally from the Big Ten. And Oregon hosted the Huskers before an MKA-record crowd of 8,566 fans, the kind of elite atmosphere common in the Big Ten, and which saw the visitors come away with a three-set win.
Shifting on the fly after a midweek injury to senior defensive specialist Daley McClellan, the Ducks employed a 6-2 rotation Thursday and took some time to get adjusted, dropping a 25-12, 26-24, 25-18 decision to the Huskers.
"Nebraska is really good, and we had to play our best, or (at least) cut down on our errors and keep attacking," UO coach Matt Ulmer said. "Second set, we did a nice job of that, and that's what made that a competitive set. But the rest, we just gave too many points away. They don't give you much, so you've got to create all the things for you on your own side, and we just couldn't sustain that long enough."
The crowd, which featured a healthy dose of red-clad Nebraska fans, shattered the previous arena record for volleyball, of 7,334 set against Oregon State on Sept. 22, 2023. It was just the third crowd of 6,000 or more to watch the Ducks at MKA.
"Personally I just love seeing the sport of volleyball grow and seeing more people being engaged," UO senior Onye Ofoegbu said. "It looked like Christmas tonight (with all the red and green in the stands). It was awesome. No matter who's in the crowd, it's just awesome to know that people are willing to take time out of their day to watch us play and watch us do what we really love. So it's awesome."
How It Happened: The first set was an adjustment period for the Ducks, in the absence of McClellan and the use of a new rotation. Oregon hit minus-.031 in the set, which Nebraska broke open with five straight points to lead 11-6 and then all but clinched with another six straight to go up 18-8.
The second set was a different story, as the UO women held Nebraska to .100 hitting, and outdid that by hitting .125 themselves.
"Trying to build those relationships kind of mid-game was difficult," said UO junior Mimi Colyer, who had 13 kills on 52 total attacks. "I think we figured it out. And it's nice being able to — the fact that we are able to do that with the depth in our program, it's really nice to see."
Oregon trailed 6-3 early in the second before scoring five straight points to take the lead. That run included two blocks by Colby Neal, who had three kills and three blocks off the bench for the Ducks.
"I thought Colby was really great tonight," Ulmer said. "That's a great version of Colby, and if she brings that night in and night out, then that's a huge answer for us. So I was happy for her."
Nebraska broke out to a 17-14 lead in the second set, before Oregon fought back into a tie at 18-18. A kill by Colyer tied it again moments later at 23-23, and the Ducks appeared to reach set point when Noemie Glover followed with a kill off a Huskers touch. But Nebraska challenged the call, the ball was ruled out with no touch, and the Huskers went on to take the set.
The third set was similarly competitive early, with Nebraska scoring three straight to lead 11-8, and Oregon responding with three points of its own to tie it — two from Michelle Ohwobete, who finished the night with eight kills. But the Huskers responded with six straight, and Oregon got no closer than four points the rest of the way to drop the set and the match.
Notable: Colyer's ace in the first set was No. 108 in her career, tying her for 10th in UO history. … Ulmer said of McClellan that the Ducks are "hoping that Daley will be back some time soon, but she's out for right now." … All-time UO great Brooke Nuneviller was in attendance for the match and was recognized on the court during the first set.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Minnesota on Saturday (1 p.m., Big Ten Network).
Team Stats
Nebr
Oregon
Kills
44
37
Errors
14
21
Attempts
108
120
Hitting %
.278
.133
Points
54.0
47.0
Assists
40
36
Aces
4
3
Blocks
6
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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