Ducks Winning Streak Snapped by Purdue

The Ducks look to regroup Saturday against 20th-ranked Ohio State.

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The University of Oregon volleyball team had its 10-match winning streak snapped on Friday afternoon in a 3-1 (27-30, 30-18, 27-30, 28-30) loss to Purdue at the Big Ten/Pac-10 challenge at St. John Arena.

The Ducks were an undefeated 10-0 in 2007, tying a program-record 10-match winning streak that was previously accomplished in 2006 and 1984.

Oregon’s streak of 30 games won, a new program record, was also snapped on Friday.

“We didn’t play well today,” head coach Jim Moore said. “We have to work harder against teams that are as talented as Purdue. We learned that lesson today , and it was one that we needed to learn.”

The Boilermakers (7-3), a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team from a year ago, extended their own winning streak to four matches after knocking off Oregon.

“We haven’t had a bad loss yet this season, and this was our first one,” Moore said. “We didn’t work hard enough to execute and win the match.”

Junior Gorana Maricic and sophomore Sonja Newcombe led Oregon with 18 kills apiece.

For Newcombe, who led the team with a .386 attacking percentage, it was her best kill total of the season.

She also added a season-high six total blocks and nine digs.

Junior Katie Swoboda had a match and season high 32 digs, while Maricic also chipped in 13.

The Ducks hit a season-low .171 in the match, it was the first time this season the team was held below .200.

Purdue hit .204 in the match, led by Stephanie Lynch’s .417 (14-4-24) performance.

It was the first time this season Oregon trailed an opponent in attacking percentage, and just the second time the Ducks allowed an opponent to hit above .200.

Oregon struggled in the first game making nine attack errors and three service errors, but then responded in game No. 2, hitting .233 led by Newcombe’s three kills and three blocks, while freshman Heather Meyers and sophomore Nevena Djordjevic had two aces apiece.

In game No. 3, Swoboda picked up 15 of her 32 digs, as Oregon struggled at the net and Purdue countered with 20 kills.

In game No. 4, Oregon picked up the offensive intensity with 19 kills, but nine attack errors and the play of the Boilermakers’ back row which totaled 24 digs, gave Purdue the victory.

Djordjevic had 29 assists in the match, while freshman Rachel Morris added 18.

Senior Karen Waddington and junior Kristen Forristall had six block assists apiece in the middle.

The Ducks look to regroup Saturday against 20th-ranked Ohio State with the start time set for 4:00 p.m. (PDT).

Duck fans can follow the match on www.GoDucks.com with a live stats link available.

Oregon will be back at Mac Court on Friday, Sept. 21, taking on the Washington Huskies in the Pac-10 opener at 7:00 p.m.

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