EUGENE, Ore. – Sixth-ranked Oregon is one of top-15 teams gathering in the Bay Area this weekend for the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge, beginning Friday at Stanford. The Ducks will play No. 10 Minnesota in the weekend opener, returning the next day to face No. 15 Ohio State with both matches at 4:30 p.m. (PT) and will be available on the Pac-12 Networks.
Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge (all times PT)
Friday, Sept. 8
#6 Oregon vs #10 Minnesota – 4:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Sept. 9
#6 Oregon vs #15 Ohio State – 4:30 p.m.
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Series History vs Minnesota
Oregon and Minnesota have 10 previous meetings before Friday’s match. The Ducks are looking to snap a three-match skid in the series and their first win against Minnesota since the 2018 NCAA regional final in Minneapolis. Seven of the 10 matches have gone at least four sets including three five-set matches. In the all-time series, Minnesota holds a 6-4 advantage.
Series History vs Ohio State
Oregon and Ohio last met in 2014, a straight-set win for the Ducks in Eugene to open the year. Oregon has a 4-1 lead in the all-time series; teams have split a pair of neutral-site meetings prior to Saturday’s match. The Ducks have won the past three in the series against Ohio State.
Last Time Out
The Ducks closed the SDSU Invitational with a sweep of Pepperdine (Sept. 2), hitting .316 coupled with nine blocks and seven service aces. Oregon posted a .491 efficiency over the final first two sets on the heels of hitting .073 in the first, committing just four attack errors over sets two and three after having seven in the first frame.
Starts With a Serve
The Ducks finished the SDSU Invitational with 22 service aces in three matches. The team had a season-high nine service winners in the weekend opener against host San Diego State (Aug. 31). Oregon has 36 aces through six matches with Mimi Colyer and Daley McClellan leading the way with 11 and nine aces, respectively.
Milestone Watch
Graduate transfer Gabby Gonzales enters the Minnesota match needing 10 digs to reach 1,000 for her career. Through six matches, she is averaging 2.16 digs per set. Gonzales had a season-high 12 digs in her last outing, the Ducks’ 3-0 win over Pepperdine (Sept. 2). The Marietta, Ga., began her collegiate career at Ohio State where she racked up 1,210 kills and 949 digs.
In the Polls
Holding steady at No. 6 in this week’s AVCA poll, Oregon is one of three Pac-12 teams among the top 15…
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