Ducks Down Pilots, Now 8-0

The Ducks conclude the non-conference portion of their season at the Boise State Tournament this weekend. Oregon faces Gonzaga on Friday (7:00 PM) and the host Broncos on Saturday (5:00 PM).

Salem-News.com Sports

PORTLAND - The University of Oregon volleyball team has its longest winning streak in 15 years after grinding out a 3-1 win over the University of Portland on Tuesday at Chiles Center.

The Ducks (8-0) won by scores of 30-18, 32-30, 19-30 and 30-22.

“We want every attack to end up on the floor and when it doesn’t we tend to stop playing,” said second-year head coach Jim Moore. “As we head into Pac-10 play we need that trend to change in a hurry.”

After breezing through the opening set, Oregon lost its passing touch in Game 2 and was plagued by untimely service errors. The Ducks didn’t earn their first lead until 31-30 and finished the deal on a Sonja Newcombe kill.

Newcombe, a freshman middle blocker, finished with team-highs of 15.5 points, 14 kills and 22 digs.

Junior hitter Erin Little had 14.0 points and a match-high (tie) seven blocks.

The Pilots (5-5) proved a difficult side to put away and out-hit the Ducks in two of the four matches. Junior hitter Nicole Thometz had match-highs of 20.0 points and 18 kills.

“They played really well and out-worked us tonight,” Moore said of UP.

QUACK TRACKS: The Ducks started the 1991 season with nine straight wins ... Oregon used a two-setter system (6-2) for the first time this season ... FR MB Sonja Newcombe’s 22 digs were a season-high.

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