VOLLEYBALL PREV IEW ►
Photo bt Smh Pualun
I union Molly McGrath (4) and /Jaw tin Charroin will need to
keep their eyes on the ball this weekend against second
ranked lK'.l.A and ttith-ranked USC.
Oregon faces tough road tilts
By Robert Weber
Emerald Spoils Roporler
Oregon volleyball (loach Gerry Gregory and his
Ducks head south this weekend for their first con
ference road test — and what a test it will be.
The Ducks meet second-ranked UCI^A at famed
Pauley Pavilion Kriday night and complete the
weekend trip with a Saturday night contest
against the tlith-runked Trojans from DSC.
The Ducks are off to a 10-3 start this season,
with .1 2-1 conference record They opened with a
tournament win at the Boise State l.abor Day
Classic in Boise. Idaho, and followed that with a
tie for third place at the J.M.N Premier Tourna
ment in Fullerton. Calif.
The Ducks, who lost five seniors from last
year’s team, are led by a group of experienced ju
niors that includes Mindee Adams. Davvnn
Charroin, Julio (effery. Molly McGrath and Ali
Watkins.
Charroin leads the team with marks of 4 17
kills and a 3.70 dig listing while Jeffery's ace av
erage of 83 places her 13th in the country in that
category
McGrath tops the squad with 12.3 assists a
game, and Adams shares the lead in block aver
age with sophomore Marcia Price at 11a game
As in years past. UCLA and DSC are expected
to la; the class of the Pacific-10 Conference. The
Bruins are the perennial favorite to claim another
Pac-10 title.
UCLA is off to a quick start with a 10 1 overall
record and a 4-0 conference mark. The Bruins'
lone loss was a grueling five-gamer to No top
ranked Nebraska
The Bruins have dominated the Ducks in the
past and hold an 11-1 series edge Oregon’s only
victory came in 1<)H7.
Coat h Gregory knows that his loam will lx* the
underdog in both matches this weekend, hut lie
knows what it will take for the Dot ks to win
"UCLA is really a who's who of high school
All-Americans," Cregory said "To have a
chance against them we must reduce our silly er
rors and be consistent serving "
"The lietler we pass the higher our hitting per
centage will lie." Gregory said, "and for us to
win our hitters will have to decrease their er
rors "
Adams, the team i aptain. said the Due k players
are keying up for a big opportunity on Friday
night
"We have never played well in the Wooden
Center hut we all feel like this is going to be the
year." Adams said "The Bruins better not come
out expecting to win this match on their name be
cause we are going to give them a real fight "
The Ducks trail in the lISC series 6-5. but a
road win a year ago should provide some added
confidence this weekend
The Trojans stumbled out of the blocks this sea
son. losing their first three games before refund
ing to post a ti--t overall record and a .1-1 confer
ence mark The Ducks' lies! opportunity for a win
this weekend may come Saturday night against
USC.
"DSC has struggled a little bit at the start of the
year," Gregory said "They are a very talented
team, but they are extremely young and will im
prove with time."
The key to success against the Trojans may rely
on the Ducks' ability to try and concentrate on
their game plan ami not dwell on the fact that
they are playing DSC.
"We feel that if wo can go down there and play
our game and play well that we will defeat DSC,"
Adams said
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