LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The No. 6 Oregon volleyball team had 13.0 total team blocks and posted its third-consecutive sweep Sunday, beating UCLA (25-14, 25-12, 25-18) to close out the opening week of Pac-12 play. The Ducks, now 12-1 this season, held the home team to a -.021 hitting percentage, a new season best for the UO defense.
Senior middle Karson Bacon had a season-high eight blocks to go along with six kills. Morgan Lewis set a career high with seven blocks while Kara McGhee was part of five blocks against the Bruins. Sunday was the fifth time this season for the Ducks to combine for 13.0 total team blocks.
Mimi Colyer and Gabby Gonzales also led Oregon with 12 kills and 16 digs, respectively. Libero Georgia Murphy added eight digs and three service aces in the sweep. The Ducks out-aced UCLA, 8-0. From her setter’s position, Hannah Pukis registered 30 assists, 10 digs, four kills and two blocks. With two aces in Sunday’s outing, freshman Kate Thibault has now had two aces in three of the last four matches.
How It Happened: Oregon jumped out to an early advantage, using an eight-point surge to lead 13-3 on a kill by Gonzales. Thibault had an ace and Bacon got in on two blocks during the run. The Ducks picked up 18 digs coupled with five blocks in the opening frame, including a solo stuff by Bacon on set point.
UCLA (8-4, 0-2) answered quickly to start the second, winning seven of the first 10 points to force head coach Matt Ulmer to use an early timeout. From the bench,…
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