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University of Oregon Athletics

Friday, October 4
Tucson, Ariz.
6:00 PM

University of Oregon

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Arizona

Bettendorf - Volleyball vs Seattle.jpg

Brenner?s Strong Performance Not Enough to Top Wildcats

10/05/13 | Women's Volleyball

TUCSON, Ariz. – Despite 22 kills and 20 digs from junior All-American Liz Brenner, the No. 21 Oregon volleyball team (8-5, 1-2) in four sets, Friday, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22.

Brenner's 20 digs ties her career high from Nov. 12, 2012 against Washington, while her 22 digs was one off her season high. The double-double was her third of the season.

Brenner was one of three Oregon players to reach double-digits in kills. Martenne Bettendorf clocked in with 15 while Ariana Williams tallied 10 and led the team with a .333 hitting mark.

The Ducks had trouble finding the floor throughout the night as Arizona lived up to its stout defensive reputation and dug 81 of Oregon's attacks. The Wildcats entered with the 18th-best digs-per-set average (16.82) and registered 20.25, Friday.

Attack errors haunted the Ducks in the first set, committing nine to Arizona's two. Though both teams had the lead for solid portions of the set, neither team could create more than a three-point gap. Arizona took their fourth lead of the set at 20-19 and never let go, continuing on to a 25-22 win.

The second set was even closer than the first with 10 ties, the last of which was at 23-23. From there, Jane Croson provided timely back-to-back kills to give Arizona a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Oregon, which entered the match 0-4 when losing the opening set this season, did not give up fight in the third set. The Ducks started the set by scoring on an Arizona attack error and held the lead wire-to-wire for a 25-20 victory, keeping hope alive.

Momentum continued in the Ducks' favor when the Green and Yellow jumped out to a 10-5 lead but and 8-2 Arizona run erased the advantage and put the Wildcats in front 13-12. A back-and-forth affair continued until Arizona found the slight edge they needed to seal the match at 25-22.

Oregon will finish its road swing in the desert with a match against No. 15 Arizona State, Sunday at 3 p.m. The match will be aired live on the Pac-12 Regional Network.