Photo by: GoDucks.com
Sheppard Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
10/05/26 | Women's Volleyball
The Puyallup, Wash., native averaged 5.00 digs per set in two home wins.
EUGENE, Ore. — Sophomore Reese Sheppard is the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. The UO libero averaged 5.00 digs per set in the Ducks' wins over then-No. 10 Purdue and Illinois. Oregon (12-2, 3-1 B1G) is also up four spots to No. 13 in the latest AVCA coaches poll.
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Sheppard capped her outstanding weekend with a career-high 27 digs in the Ducks' four-set victory over Illinois. She came into the match with a previous best of 20 digs, a figure she had reached twice prior to Sunday's win. Sheppard's 27 digs are the most by an Oregon player since Makenzie Morris had 28 digs in 2024.
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In the team's Big Ten home opener, Sheppard had 18 digs and four assists in a reverse sweep of Purdue. She had 13 of those 18 digs over the final three sets as the Ducks were erasing an 0-2 match deficit. The Ducks held the Boilermakers to a .184 hitting percentage, 84 points below their season average coming into the match.
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The Puyallup, Wash., native becomes Oregon's second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in program history, joining Onye Ofoegbu who earned the award in 2024. Sheppard also collects the Ducks' second weekly honor of the season; Marina Crownover was the Big Ten Setter of the Week in early September.
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Sheppard is now averaging 3.54 digs per set after her big weekend.
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Oregon hits the road this coming weekend for matches at No. 22 Michigan State on Friday and then on to Michigan the next day. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+. The Ducks' next home match is Oct. 16 when the team hosts No. 15 Indiana.
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Single-match and season tickets for Matthew Knight Arena are currently on sale.
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For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.
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Sheppard capped her outstanding weekend with a career-high 27 digs in the Ducks' four-set victory over Illinois. She came into the match with a previous best of 20 digs, a figure she had reached twice prior to Sunday's win. Sheppard's 27 digs are the most by an Oregon player since Makenzie Morris had 28 digs in 2024.
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In the team's Big Ten home opener, Sheppard had 18 digs and four assists in a reverse sweep of Purdue. She had 13 of those 18 digs over the final three sets as the Ducks were erasing an 0-2 match deficit. The Ducks held the Boilermakers to a .184 hitting percentage, 84 points below their season average coming into the match.
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The Puyallup, Wash., native becomes Oregon's second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in program history, joining Onye Ofoegbu who earned the award in 2024. Sheppard also collects the Ducks' second weekly honor of the season; Marina Crownover was the Big Ten Setter of the Week in early September.
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Sheppard is now averaging 3.54 digs per set after her big weekend.
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Oregon hits the road this coming weekend for matches at No. 22 Michigan State on Friday and then on to Michigan the next day. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+. The Ducks' next home match is Oct. 16 when the team hosts No. 15 Indiana.
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Single-match and season tickets for Matthew Knight Arena are currently on sale.
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For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballSunday, October 04
Saturday, October 03
Sunday, September 20
Friday, September 18
