By Knight Jarecki
The 22nd ranked Oregon Ducks volleyball team defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 3-1 Sunday morning at Matthew Knight Arena . The win on Sunday solidifies a perfect February for the women’s volleyball team as they have won their last 7 matches.
The first set began with both teams trading points back and forth with the Ducks and Buffs finding themselves tied 3 times in the first twenty serves with Colorado leading 11-9. Colorado then went on a 4-2 run getting ahead 15-11 prompting Matt Ulmer to call a time out. After the time out the Ducks offense started to heat up as they went on a 3-0 run to cut the lead to 14-15 in favor of Colorado. After a service error by Taylor Williams caused the Buffs lead to extend to 2, Oregon went on a 3-0 run to take the lead 17-16. Colorado then went on a 4-3 run knotting the score at 20-20 through the first 40 serves. Colorado then ended the set on a 5-3 run to win the first set 25-23 ending Oregon’s 6 set win streak.
The second set kept the competetiveness the first set had going as the first 8 serves found the teams tied 4 times. Colorado got ahead 7-5 before the Ducks answered back with 2 kills to even it up 7-7 for the 5th tie in the first 14 serves. The Buffs answered right back going on a 4-0 run to lead 11-7 causing Matt Ulmer to call timeout for the Ducks. The timeout paid off for Ulmer and the Ducks as they went on a 5-1 run after the break to tie the score at 12. Both teams traded points for the next 6 serves knotting the score at 15 through the first 30 serves in the second set. Oregon then responded with a 5-2 run to move ahead 20-17 causing Colorado to call timeout. After the timeout, both teams went on 2-0 runs to make the score 22-19. Oregon finished the set on a 3-0 run to take set 2 25-20 evening the match at 1-1.
In the 3rd set, Colorado got out to an early 6-4 lead after the first 10 serves. Oregon then responded by going on a 6-1 run to take the lead 10-7 causing the Buffaloes to call time out. After the time out Oregon went on a 5-1 run giving the Ducks a commanding 15-8 lead in the second set. Both teams split the next 12 serves as the Ducks lead 21-14. Oregon got their lead up to 24-16 before Colorado scored 3 straight points to make it 24-19. Gloria Mutiri answered back with a strong kill to win the set for the Ducks 25-19 giving the Ducks a 2-1 lead in the Match.
The Ducks kept the momentum going in the 4th set as they got out to a quick 3-0 lead. Colorado answered right back however going on a 3-0 run of their own to tie the score at 3-3. A 3-1 run by the Ducks gave Oregon the lead 6-4 through the first 10 serves. After the Buffaloes tied the score at 6-6, Oregon went on another 3-0 run making the score 9-6 in favor of the Ducks. The teams split the next 6 serves still giving the Ducks a 3 point lead at 12-9. Oregon then went on a 3-1 run giving them a 15-10 lead promting a timeout by Jesse Mahoney and the Buffaloes. After the timeout from Colorado, the Buffs went on a 4-2 run cutting the score to 17-14 with Matt Ulmer calling timeout in response to the run. The timeout proved to be efficient as the Ducks went on a 7-3 run giving them a 20-14 lead. Oregon then finished the set on a 5-3 run winning the fourth set.
Brooke Nuneviller picked up her sixth straight double double with a team high 15 kills and 17 digs. Setters Kylie Robinson and Elise Ferreira both picked up double doubles in the winning effort with Robinson having 20 assists and a career high 23 digs while Robinson finished with 18 assists and 11 digs.
Oregon now moves to (8-2) on the year and have won their 7th consecutive match. The Ducks will face a tough test ahead against #9 Washington when they host the Huskies in 2 weeks. Washington is (10-2) on the year and is coming off a series sweep against #7 Utah opening the door to the Pac 12 volleyball standings.