Oregon Shocks No. 9 UCLA With Sweep

For the second straight night, junior Gorana Maricic led Oregon with 25 kills, hitting .327 and adding 12 digs.

Junior Gorana Maricic totaled 54 kills in wins over USC and UCLA this week. Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - The University of Oregon volleyball team did it again on Friday night.

In front of 1,420 at Mac Court, the 20th-ranked Ducks knocked off their second consecutive top-10 opponent, sweeping ninth-ranked UCLA (30-24, 30-28, 30-24).

The Ducks’ back-to-back victories over No. 6 USC and No. 9 UCLA, marks the first time in the history of the program Oregon has registered consecutive victories over top-10 opponents.

Oregon’s win broke a 40-match losing steak to the Bruins that dated back to Sept. 26, 1987, the program’s only other win (15-11, 12-15, 15-4, 15-6) against UCLA in the history of the series.

Oregon improves to 18-9 overall and 7-8 in the Pacific-10. The Ducks’ win total is the best for the program since the 1989 squad ended its season 21-9. Oregon’s seven Pac-10 victories match the program’s total from 2006, with three regular season contests left on the schedule.

No. 9 UCLA falls to 17-8 overall and 7-7 in the Pac-10.

For the second straight night, junior Gorana Maricic led Oregon with 25 kills, hitting .327 and adding 12 digs for her 10th double-double of the year.

Sophomore Sonja Newcombe had nine kills with her 12 digs, while Heather Meyers added eight kills and three service aces.

Junior Katie Swoboda had a match-high 18 digs, now 10 short of eclipsing Teri Kramer’s all-time record of 1,481.

Sophomore Nevena Djordjevic and freshman Rachel Morris ran the offense with 24 and 20 assists, respectively.

UCLA’s Ali Daley and Kaitlin Sather each had 10 kills to lead the Bruins.

Oregon has one last home match remaining in 2007, hosting Oregon State in second leg of the Northwest Dodge Civil War Series next Friday at 7 p.m.

Source: goducks.com

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