Ducks Sweep WKU in Season Opener

Friday, August 28

Cape Girardeau, MO

4:00 PM

University of Oregon

1-0,0-0Big Ten

Western Kentucky (RV)

1-1,0-0CUSA

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Western Ky.	23	20	23	0
Oregon	25	25	25	3

Huddle celebration vs WKU (Aug. 28, 2026)

08/28/26 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Oregon won five of the last six points in the third to secure the straight-set victory.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The No. 25 Oregon volleyball team swept its way past Western Kentucky (25-23, 25-20, 25-23) in Friday's season opener at the SEMO Tournament in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Valentina Vaulet and Dalia Virlan accounted for the Ducks' final four points including a tandem block to clinch the straight-set victory.

Virlan tied for the match high with eight kills followed by Vaulet who put down seven kills coupled with seven digs, three assists and two blocks. The Ducks hit .304 in Friday's win boosted by a .423 clip in the third set. Alanah Clemente and Iva Sucurovic added six kills apiece against the Hilltoppers.

Sucurovic and Virlan combined for 14 kills and a .550 hitting percentage out of the middle. Sophomore libero Reese Sheppard tied Vaulet for the match lead with seven digs to go along with two aces.

How It Happened: Down by three in the first set, the Ducks put together a run to take their first lead at 16-15 after a kill by Sucurovic. The opening set was tied at 21-all, the last of 13 ties in the frame, but the Ducks took advantage of a pair of WKU service errors and kills from Virlan and Clemente to take the 1-0 match lead.

The second set was a bit more decisive for Oregon with the help of an early 6-1 run that was capped by an ace for Sjakkie Donkers, good for an 11-6 lead. The UO advantage grew to eight at 19-11 before the Hilltoppers rattled off six of the next seven points to pull to within three. Oregon steadied and got kills from Vaulet and Marlee Arrington push the lead back to five.

On its second set point, the Ducks went ahead 2-0 with the help of service error by their opponent.

Western Kentucky (1-1) jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the third set but Oregon started to chip away at the deficit, pulling even at 14-14. The Hilltoppers responded immediately with a four-point run to go ahead 18-14. Again, the Ducks worked their way back into a tie—22-all—after consecutive kills from Sucurovic and Virlan.

WKU appeared to win the next two points, however, a successful challenge by head coach Trent Kersten resulted in a replay that turned a would-be 24-22 deficit into a 23-23 tied score thanks to another kill by Virlan. Vaulet registered a solo block to give Oregon match point and then combined with Virlan for that final stuff.

Notable: Marina Crownover led Oregon with 15 assists, followed by eight from freshman setter Marlena Gracia and four from sophomore Kamden Mitchell … Friday's match featured 22 total ties including 13 in the first set … Western Kentucky, preseason favorite in Conference USA, beat Southeast Missouri in the first match of the day.

The season-opening weekend continues Saturday against host Southeast Missouri (4 p.m. PT, ESPN+) at Houck Field House in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Like the Oregon-WKU match, it will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Single-match and season tickets for Matthew Knight Arena are currently on sale. Oregon plays 13 home matches in the regular season including nine dates against Big Ten opponents. The Ducks' home opener is Sept. 4 against Long Island (6 p.m., B1G+).

For more news and information about Oregon Volleyball, follow @OregonVB on Instagram and Twitter, and @OregonVolleyball on Facebook.