Beavers Drop Road Finale in L.A.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Oregon State women's volleyball team was bested in four sets on Sunday afternoon by No. 17-ranked UCLA in Pauley Pavilion.
 
The Beavers took the opening set 25-19, while UCLA went on to win the next three sets 25-9, 25-21, and 25-16.
 
Out of the gate it was a strong start for Oregon State who went on to hit .452 in the opening set. The Beavers took a 7-3 lead early that included a 5-1 run. UCLA drew the game even at 10-10, but OSU went on a 6-2 run to force a Bruin timeout with the Beavers up 16-12.
 
The Bruins made it a three point game, 19-16, with back-to-back points. Izzi Szulczewski gave Oregon State set point with a kill that was followed up by a Szulczewski and Anastasija Svetnik block to lock up set one 25-19 for OSU.
 
After UCLA took the first two points of the second set, Mychael Vernon registered fourth and fifth kills of the match to tie it at 2-2. The Bruins went on a 7-2 run to take a 9-4 lead and force an OSU timeout. UCLA went on to take the next two points out of the timeout and win the set 25-9, tying the match at a set apiece.
 
Both teams traded points early in the third set, but it was Oregon State using a 7-1 run to go up 10-5 and make UCLA burn its first timeout. The teams continued to trade blows as the Bruins closed in on OSU with a 4-0 run, making the Beaver lead 16-15 and forcing them to call a timeout.
 
Svetnik snapped the UCLA run, while also igniting a 3-0 Beaver run to put Oregon State back in front 19-16.
 
Kateryna Tkachenko made the score 21-18 in favor of OSU, but the Bruins responded with a 3-0 to knot the game at 21-21 and make Oregon State call a timeout. UCLA went on a 7-0 run to close out the set with a 25-21 win and go up 2-1 in the match.
 
Vernon opened the third set with a kill that was followed by a block from Szulczewski and Lindsey Schell, giving the Beavers the 2-0 lead. Oregon State had to use its first timeout after UCLA opened the game up at 11-6.
 
A trio of points out of the timeout from the Beavers cut their deficit to two, 11-9. Despite the teams splitting the final 13 points of the set, UCLA went on to win 25-16 and the 3-1 match win.
 
Match Notes:

• Freshman Izzi Szulczewski notched her team-leading 10th double-double of the season with a game-high 34 assists and 12 digs.
• Freshman Anastasija Svetnik recorded a team-high 12 kills and six blocks. She hit .364 on the afternoon.
• Senior Grace Massey registered a team-best 17 digs.

Next Up: Oregon State hosts Utah on April 1 and 3 for its season finale series. The first match will be at 6 pm (PT) and match two will be at 11 am.
 
Oregon State volleyball fans are encouraged to join Off the Bench, the program's new donor club. Click here for more information or call Alyssa Whitney at 541-231-4351 or email Rebecca McCaulley at rebecca.mccaulley@osufoundation.org.
 
For more information on the Oregon State volleyball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/BeaverVBall, by Facebook at Facebook.com/BeaverVBall or on Instagram at Instagram.com/BeaverVBall.
 
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