No. 8 Huskies Bite No. 24 Oregon in Pac-10 Opener

The Ducks won the first two games – in front of 2,375 fans ­­- led by junior outside hitter Gorana Maricic.

Junior Gorana Maricic had a career and match high 33 kills to lead Oregon. Photo courtesy; goducks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - The 24th-ranked Oregon volleyball team was on the brink of an upset in the team’s Pacific-10 Conference opener, but the eighth-ranked Washington Huskies would not go quietly, avenging an early two-game deficit for a 3-2 (30-28, 30-26, 16-30, 25-30, 11-15) victory over the Ducks on Friday night at McArthur Court.

The Huskies, who have reached the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four the last three seasons, remain undefeated with a record of 12-0 (1-0, Pac-10), while Oregon falls to 11-2 (0-1, Pac-10), suffering its first loss at Mac Court this season.

The Ducks won the first two games – in front of 2,375 fans ­­- led by junior outside hitter Gorana Maricic.

The Ducks’ leader in points and kills totaled 20.5 points on 17 kills in the first two games to help Oregon take the 2-0 lead.

She finished the night with a match and season high 33 kills and 38.0 points.

It was a double-double for Maricic, who also added 20 digs.

Nursing a two-game lead and on the brink of knocking off the Huskies for the first time since 2000, eighth-ranked Washington responded, mounting an early 11-4 lead in game No. 3, before cruising to a 30-16 victory behind senior Stevie Mussie’s six kills and the Ducks’ 12 errors.

Oregon’s errors in the attack game totaled 39 on the evening compared to the Huskies’ 22.

Mussie finished the evening leading her team with 27.5 points on 27 kills.

Washington totaled 76 kills as a team, and showed the team’s dominance at the net with 17.0 blocks, led by Alesha Deesing’s 10.

Oregon sophomore Sonja Newcombe recorded her third double-double of the year with 15 kills and 15 digs (a new season high).

Freshman Heather Meyers tied her career high with 15 kills, while sophomore setter Nevena Djodjevic led the offense with a season-high 42 assists.

Oregon returns to Mac Court Saturday at 7:00 p.m. to host the Washington State Cougars.

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