by Cuinn Huber
The University of Oregon Volleyball Team is preparing for its first match of the season against
a ranked PAC 12 team with the Washington State Cougars coming to Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday. These two teams are ranked at number six and number seven respectively setting the stage for a cutthroat match between these two volleyball powerhouses. The Ducks are coming having won every single home game last season and all of the ones that have been played so far this season putting immense pressure on them to keep the streak alive against arguably their most difficult opponent so far this season. Ducks Star players Mimi Colyer, Morgan Lewis, and Karson Bacon the current PAC 12 defensive player of the week will have to be playing at their maximum if the Ducks want to win this game. The team also needs to minimize their errors to not allow Wazzu an opportunity to get a leg up.
The Washington State Cougars are also coming into match only losing one the entire season. They have already defeated several volleyball heavyweights this season including UT Austin and Baylor and are coming off a clean sweep against Oregon State. Three cougars are averaging three or more points scored per set led by Iman Isanovic the Bosnian Bullet who is averaging 3.9 points a set as of the writing of this preview. And they are not lacking in the defense department either Karly Basham is currently averaging nearly four digs a set after 14 matches and two other players Julie Norville and Pia Timmer averaging at least two digs a set this season. Given that both streams have strong depth and are top their both offensively and defensively it is going to be the small decisions and mistakes that will likely decide the game. Oregon's biggest advantage is that this game will be on home turf in Matthew Knight Arena. Washington State has the advantage of having a plethora of Eastern European stars on their team bring their tricks of the trade. One team is eager to keep their home game win streak alive the other is hoping to break it and become a star team in their own right.
Whichever way this game goes it will likely be a five-set match, the strength of these two teams is just about equal as reflected by their rankings. Karson Bacon is going to have to show the kind of defense that has earned defensive Player of the Week to prevent Washington State from going on a scoring streak. But above all the Ducks cannot make any silly errors and give Washington State any free points and the same thing goes for the Cougars ultimately mistakes are going to decide the game.
Prediction UO 3 WSU 2