Five-Set Road Loss in Pullman

PULLMAN, Wash. – Brooke Nuneviller and Mimi Colyer each put down 20 kills but 12th-ranked Oregon dropped a five-set road decision Friday night at Washington State. The setback was the Ducks' first loss in Pac-12 play. With the result, Oregon is now 10-3 overall with a 4-1 mark in conference play.
 
Friday marked the sixth five setter between the teams in the past 11 meetings, and the 10th in the past 11 that have gone at least four sets.
 
Nuneviller hit .341 on the way to her fourth 20-kill performance of the season. She added 14 digs for a 10th double-double of the year. Colyer also had 10 digs and five blocks while Elise Ferreira dished out 51 assists to go along with 14 digs for her first double-double of the season. Libero Georgia Murphy was the fourth Duck with double-digit digs, picking up 13 digs behind the UO block.
 
How It Happened
Oregon had a three-point edge early in the first but the home team won six of seven for 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Out of the break, the Ducks steadied and with a three-point surge, went ahead 18-17 with a kill by Kiari Robey. The team stretched its advantage to 23-20 on a block by Mimi Colyer and Colby Neal.
 
With Oregon leading 24-21, Washington State (11-5, 3-2) saved one set point but Colyer ended the next rally—and first set—with a kill.
 
The Ducks led by as much as five points in the second and were ahead 23-20 before WSU put together four in a row to force an Oregon timeout. The Ducks fought off two set points and had one of their own at 26-25 but the home team rattled off the last three points of the frame to even the match.
 
Washington State won the first point of the third but it was all Ducks after that, taking a 6-2 lead on a Nuneviller kill. The lead grew to double digits at 18-8 thanks to a block by Mutiri and Robey. On their second set point, the Ducks got a kill out of the middle from Robey to take the 2-1 match lead. Oregon hit .364 in the third frame.
 
Robey finished the night with a season-high eight kills (.375) and five total blocks. It was her fifth match of the year with at least five blocks.
 
The home team won the first four points of the fourth set and eight of the first 10 on its way to forcing the decisive fifth. The Ducks pulled to within three on a few occasions but Washington State used a 4-0 run to re-establish control. Oregon fought off three set points before WSU extended the match to five.
 
In the fifth, Gloria Mutiri tallied the first point with a kill off the block but Washington State rattled off the next three points to go ahead. The Ducks tied the score at 3-all and 4-all, both with kills from Colyer but WSU led 8-6 when the teams switched sides.
 
The 20th kills by Nuneviller and Colyer kept the Ducks within three at 11-8 and 12-9, respectively. From that point, however, Washington State won the final three points to secure the five-set victory.
 
Mutiri recorded nine kills and four blocks in the five setter.
 
Notable
Despite the loss, the UO defense held Washington State to a .170 hitting percentage, 110 points below its .280 season average. It was Oregon's first loss when out-hitting and out-blocking its opponent; the Ducks hit .239 in Friday's match. Oregon finished the night with 13.0 total team blocks.
 
Up Next
The Ducks' weekend finale will be a top-20 matchup against No. 16 Washington. First serve is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. (PT) on the Pac-12 Network. Click HERE for Oregon's full schedule.
 
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