Ducks Suffer Gut-Wrenching Loss to No. 7 USC

The Ducks remain home next week and host intrastate rival Oregon State (3-8, 0-2) on Friday at 7:00 PM.

Photos: goducks.com

EUGENE - Seventh-ranked USC fought back from a 2-1 deficit to break the hearts of the Oregon Ducks in a five-set decision Friday night at McArthur Court.

The Women of Troy (13-0, 2-0 Pac-10) won 24-30, 30-20, 25-30, 30-27 and 15-10 to hand the Ducks (10-2, 0-2) their second conference defeat in as many nights in front of a season-high crowd of 1,067.

“We were better tonight and it’s disappointing, but I’m pleased with the way we competed,” said second-year Oregon coach Jim Moore. “As long as we continue to play at the level we showed tonight, we’ll be fine.”

Oregon held the visiting national power to a .149 attack percentage and limited junior hitter Asia Kaczor – the reigning Pac-10 Player of the Week – to a .107 clip.

Kaczor, a transfer from Poland via the College of Southern Idaho, still managed to tie for the team-high in kills with 17 with sophomore hitter Jessica Gysin. Both players finished with 22.0 points.

Sophomore hitter Mira Djuric posted match-highs of 19 kills and 22.5 points in the Ducks’ effort. Senior blocker Kristen Bitter finished with 10 kills and hit a match-best .346.

“It’s bittersweet,” said senior setter Heather Madison of UO’s close call. “We’re disappointed, but we know we can compete against the top teams in the Pac-10.”

USC had 25 total blocks, including 13 from junior blocker Bethany Johansen, while the Ducks recorded 11.

Both liberos put on quite a show as USC All-American senior Debora Seilhamer dug 39 balls and Oregon sophomore Katie Swoboda tallied 31. The two teams combined for 163 digs in the five-game battle.

QUACK TRACKS: Oregon won Game 1 for the 11th time in 12 matches this season ... the match was UO’s second straight against a top 10 opponent ... Ducks’ assistant coach Tina Johnson-Lockhart was an assistant coach under USC’s Mick Haley at Texas.

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