Ducks and Bruins don’t usually share the same habitat, but in college sports, the two have long been familiar foes.
UCLA women’s volleyball (10-10, 4-7 Big Ten) will travel to Eugene, Oregon, to face No. 10 Oregon (16-4, 8-3) Saturday night. The matchup marks a new chapter in the teams’ shared history, from battles in the Pac-12 to their new rivalry in the Big Ten.
The two programs have met 45 times since 2000, with UCLA holding a 28-17 advantage. However, the Ducks have built a streak in recent years winning four straight contests against the Bruins since 2021.
Graduate student middle blocker Anna Dodson, who has played under various coaches and witnessed the team’s conference transitions, said the equation is the same despite the result of the affair.
“Getting back to the grind and focusing on our volleyball,” Dodson said, reflecting on the Bruins’ approach to overcoming setbacks after being swept by USC on Thursday.
Midway through the season and still unranked, the Bruins continue to face a familiar struggle – they just can’t seem to close out sets. While the Bruins’ most recent loss was a sweep, their pitfalls have been most evident in five-set matches, where they’re 0-5 in conference play. Last time it faced a team ranked No. 10 in the nation, UCLA dropped a costly second set to Purdue after initially leading 24-19 – and ultimately ended up losing the contest 3-2.
“We’ve been in the Big Ten for half a season now, so I think the shift has been made,” said coach Alfee Reft. “We get back to the drawing board and find solutions, and then we have a formidable opponent and another opportunity we’re in. There’s just not a lot of time to sit in some of these losses.”
One constant presence in the Bruins’ rotation, graduate student setter Audrey Pak, missed the Bruins’ most recent matchup against USC because of an undisclosed injury.
In her absence, freshman setter Kate Duffey stepped in. Reflecting on the game, Duffey credited her teammates’ support for helping her navigate against their crosstown rival.
“The team is there for me, and just their practices brings a lot of fire,” Duffey said. “It definitely felt nice, so it’s great to have fun.”
For now, UCLA has to regroup once again and get ready to continue the season, which consists of eight more matches, including two against currently ranked opponents.
“We got to regroup quickly,” Reft said. “Find new solutions, and then hit the ground running on Saturday. It’s what we’ve been doing all year, and we’ll find a way to do it on Saturday.”
On the offensive front, Oregon features outside hitter Mimi Colyer, who leads the team with 279 kills. Defensively, Oregon stands out, currently ranking 11th in the NCAA for blocks per set. The Ducks have three players with over 60 blocks, including middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu, who leads the team with 86 blocks.
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