Stanford Blocks Oregon’s Upset Attempt

STANFORD, Calif. – A stingy Cardinal defense kept the No. 20 Oregon volleyball team’s offense out of sync for a majority of the night as the Ducks fell to No. 6 Stanford in three sets, Wednesday, 25-22, 25-13, 25-22.

Oregon (12-7, 5-4 Pac-12) played to its fast tempo in the beginning of the match and found success spreading the offense around. After the first set, Stanford, the second-best blocking team in nation, lived up to its reputation with 10 blocks in the final two sets for a total of 14.

Canace Finley led the Oregon with 12 kills on the night while Liz Brenner tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 16 digs. Finley was the most efficient of the primary offensive threats for the Ducks, hitting .258 on 31 attempts.

Wednesday was the first time the sophomore, Finley, led the team in kills this season.

Brenner’s 16 digs tied libero Amanda Benson for the team high. Benson was able to get to a lot of balls early, tallying 11 digs in the first set alone before the Stanford offense found its rhythm.

Oregon got off to a fast start and put the Cardinal on their heels, getting out to their largest lead of the set at 12-6. The Stanford charged back on a 7-1 run to tie the match at 13-13 and forcing a timeout by Moore. Neither team was able to separate as the match saw its ninth tie at 21-21. It would be the final tie of the set though, as Stanford’s 4-1 run sealed the first-set advantage.

The second set started close as Oregon only trailed by one point at 10-11. Stanford sprinted away from there to take the set 25-13 on a 14-3 run thanks to four blocks and a .480 hitting mark in the second frame.

The Ducks kept inching closer in the final set before Stanford continually pulled away to a safe distance. Oregon brought the match to 18-20 in the closing stages but did not have enough to put it over the top coming out of a Stanford timeout, as the Cardinals finished the match on another 25-22 victory.

Kacey Nady finished with a career-high four kills on the night.

The Ducks will finish their Bay-Area road trip with a 6 p.m., match at California, Friday. That match will also be shown live on the Pac-12 Networks.

The Automated ScoreBook
#20 Oregon vs #6 Stanford
(Oct 23, 2013 at Stanford, Calif.)