DUCKS VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS PAIR
Having lost 4 consecutive matches against some of the top teams in the nation, the Duck Women Volleyball team got back on the winning track over the weekend with a sweep of the Washington schools.
On Friday night, in one of the most exhilarating matches of the season the Ducks fought back from an 0-2 deficit for their win. After dropping the first two sets 25-21 and 25-17 respectively, the team used the 10 minute intermission to recharge. The team exploded to their most dominating set of the season taking the third set 25-8. That marks the fewest points the Ducks have allowed in any set this season. The Ducks took the fourth set 25-13 before the penultimate fifth set. In a back and forth set, the Duck women fell behind early 4-0 and trailed 8-5 midway through the set before closing out the set and match with a late 10-4 run to take the fifth set 15-12.
After an exciting match on Friday night, Saturday looked to be another tough test as the Ducks faced 7th ranked Washington. Instead, the Ducks won in straight sets 27-25, 30-28 and 25-18. The win ups the Ducks record to 14-6 overall and 7-5 in Pac-12 play. For her efforts, sophomore setter Laura Plum was named the Pac-12 Conference offensive player of the week.
FOOTBALL DOMINATES COLORADO
Without their top two offensive players, the Ducks did not miss a beat against Colorado. Playing at Folsom Field for the first time since the 1987 debut of Bill Musgrave, the Ducks once again featured the debut of a talented young quarterback. Getting his first start as a Duck, Bryan Bennett played very well early and proved that Duck fans have much to look forward to for the next several years. For the Game, Bennett finished 11-20 for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bennett also carried the ball six times for 69 yards.
Starting for the second consecutive week in place of the injured LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner showed that the Ducks do not miss much without the nations leading rusher. Barner scored an 84 yard touchdown in the first quarter and in very limited action carried the ball 10 times for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns of his own.
Up next for the football team is a home date with Washington State on Saturday, October 29.
DUCK CALLS
Cross Country : The Ducks travel to Arizona for the Pac-12 Championships this weekend.
Soccer: Women’s soccer team upset #18 Washington State 1-0. That is their first win over a ranked opponent in over 2 years. For the season the Ducks stand 8-7-2 overall and 3-4-1 in Pac-12 play.
Football: Darron Thomas was named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien award given annually to college football’s best quarterback.