The 12th-ranked Oregon Ducks showed off an efficient offense, posting a .494 hitting percentage as six players earned at least five kills to lead the Ducks over Seattle University, 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-12), Sunday afternoon in volleyball action at McArthur Court.
Oregon (10-1) jumped on top early in the first set, scoring four of the first five points, then using runs of 11-2 and 8-4 to take the first set with ease. After Seattle University took a 2-1 lead in the second set, the Ducks scored six of the next seven points to take a 7-3 lead. With seven kills from five different players, Oregon closed out the set on an 8-1 run to go into the intermission up two sets to zero.
Thanks to two kills by Neticia Enesi and two service aces from Sonja Newcombe, the Ducks jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set. Oregon then used four kills from four different players to extend the advantage to 15-5, and then the Ducks finished off the match by winning five of the last six points, with a kill by Betsy Sedlak completing the sweep.
Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led Seattle University with six kills, with Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) notching four kills and two total blocks and Kelly Benson (Mission Viejo, Calif.) also collecting four kills. Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) led the Redhawks with 15 assists and two service aces, while Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) earned nine digs to lead the team defensively.
For Oregon, Heather Meyers led the way with nine kills without an attack error for a .600 hitting percentage, plus she had nine digs in the match. Gorana Maricic and Kristen Forristall each finished with eight kills, with three other Ducks collecting five kills during the match. Nevena Djordjevic (22 assists) and Rachel Morris (12 assists) split the setting duties, and Katie Swoboda led all players with 15 defensive digs.
Seattle University (2-9) returns to Seattle for three matches next weekend, beginning with a trip across Lake Washington to face ninth-ranked Washington at Bank of America Arena Thursday, Sept. 18, beginning at 7 p.m. Then, the Redhawks are back in the Connolly Center, first to host Zhejiang Club of China Friday, Sept. 19, starting at 7 p.m. Finally, Seattle University welcomes #20 San Diego to the North Court for a Saturday matinee on Sept. 20 starting at 12 noon.