Oregon needs
senior libero
Katie O’Neil,
seen here
against
Oregon State,
to stay healthy
and help
develop a
young group
of defensive
players. O’Neil
has missed
action this
season after
suffering a
concussion.
Erik R.
Bishoff
Photographer
Volleyball team remains
positive despite injury
After losing the first Pac-10 game of the season, the
Ducks look for back-to-back wins in Washington
BY STEPHEN MILLER
SPORTS REPORTER
Oregon coach Carl Ferreira had
one chance to get his players com
fortable with the Pacific-10 Confer
ence at home before the team had to
start packing.
The suitcases have been unpacked,
and the Ducks aim to drop the 0-1
record they have been lugging around
when they face the Huskies and the
Cougars back-to-back in Washington.
Ferreira was pleased with his
team’s efforts and reaction to Lauren
Westendorf's injury and the loss to ri
val Oregon State last week.
“It is really important that we re
spond in a positive way after the in
jury of Lauren,” Ferreira said. “I felt
we did an excellent job of that
against the Beavers."
The Ducks immediately showed
bench depth when they sent in sopho
more outside hitter Erin Little to fill the
large shoes left by Westendorf. Little
produced 13 kills in three games.
Sarah Mason, also a sophomore
outside hitter, generated a match-high
19 kills despite the team’s setback.
“No one is going to replace Lau
ren’s output,” Ferreira said, “But our
players embrace the challenge and
are extremely motivated to play our
rivals to the north.”
Four Oregon players finished with
double-digits in kills last week, for
the first time this season. Washington
has accomplished the feat three times
this year, but Washington State has
n’t reached that point once.
Oregon (8-3 overall, 0-1
Pac-10) at Washington
(10-0, 2-0)
No. 2 Washington hosts an un
ranked Oregon team at the Clarence
S. "Hec" Edmundson Pavilion
tonight at 7 p.m.
The Huskies lead the all-time se
ries 44-19. They have won six
straight matches and 16 of their last
17 against the Ducks. They rank first
or second in the Pac-10 in six of the
seven main statistical categories.
Washington is coming off big wins
against USC and UCLA last week.
“We’re making progress,” Wash
ington coach Jim McLaughlin said.
“It’s exciting that we’re getting a little
bit of recognition nationally, but the
important thing is that we’ve got to
stay centered on what we’re doing
and continue this learning curve.”
Oregon’s service game against
Washington will be one aspect that
dictates its success. The Ducks have
107 aces on the seasbn and average
2.74 per game, which is best in the
Pac-10 and third in the nation. The
Huskies are second in the conference
with 1.76 aces per game (58 total).
Oregon’s senior libero Katie O’Neil
will have to be reliable at receiving
balls on the defensive side of the net.
The Ducks shattered the Pac-10
record for service aces in a match af
ter they landed 22 in a non-confer
ence match against Seton Hall on
Sept. 18. The previous record was 12,
which Oregon has achieved twice.
Both teams average approximately
the same amount of kills per game,
though Washington holds a slight ad
vantage at 16.58 to Oregon’s 16.56.
Oregon at Washington
State (3-11, 0-2)
The Cougars will be looking to
pounce on their 31st victory against
the Ducks to break the 30-30-1 all
time series record between these two
squads. Oregon is more focused on
breaking the 24-match winning
streak that Washington State has
against the Ducks.
Oregon’s blockers will need to con
tain the Cougars’ tandem of sopho
more outside hitters Jennifer Todd
and Kelly Rosin. Both players were
starters in 2003. Todd has recorded 63
kills in her last five matches. Rosin, a
native of Springfield, has 199 kills
this season and is 10th in the league
in kills per game (3.83).
Washington State welcomes the
Beavers to Friel Court tonight and the
Ducks on Saturday.
stephenmilleT@dailyemerald.com
Jones: MLB, give us a chance
Continued from page 11A
I could hit the blackjack table. Can I
borrow yours?”
Okay, Las Vegas might not be a
very good idea.
But back to what’s important —
my sorrow about no baseball in
Portland.
Now I have to endure a long,
butt-numbing drive, sit in frustrat
ing Seattle traffic and pay a ridicu
lous $20 if I want to park anywhere
within a country mile of the ball
ala
Carte
Shakespearean
Scenes &
Monologues
eatre
'J fri & Sat
Oct. 1 & 2/ 8 PM
UO Box Office!EMU
346-4363
* UT Box Office-346-4191
1 \ filings of IVrtoimaiuv Only
park to see major league baseball.
Despite their decision, I’m
still going to rock my “Bring big
league baseball to Portland” sticker
on my car.
I have faith. Faith that Portland
will pursue baseball more actively.
Faith that the Northwest has room
for two professional baseball teams.
Faith in a baseball god that will re
store my damaged baseball soul.
claytonjones@dailyemerald. com
- poppi7—
^/4n&4ol!&
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