Vert Challenge: Oregon Ducks Fight, Lose Battle Against Texas
Oregon battled on Friday night in their opening game of the season, but fell behind early.
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The Oregon Ducks have had this date circled on their calendar for a while. The Texas Longhorns last faced Oregon in the National Championship in 2012, and won. The Ducks would love to return the favor to start the season on their home floor in the 2nd Annual Vert Challenge.
There is one thing noticable about Texas – their height.
Texas would get the best of the Oregon Ducks in the first set, but Oregon would hang tough in the second. Trailing 14-10, Kacey Nady put together three kills in four attempts helping Oregon get on a run to tie the set at 15. Micah White put Texas back in front 17-15. The Longhorns reeled off two more points forcing an Oregon timeout.
The tempo the first and second set was all Texas, they would win the second set 25-19 putting Oregon into an 0-2 hole entering the third set. Taylor Agost would get a point for Oregon to start the third set.
Oregon pulled ahead 3-1, but Texas fought back. Oregon pushed to 6-5 following an service ace from Lindsay Vander Weide. The back and forthd continued and the Ducks found a slight edge. Kasey Nady hit a service ace, followed by another from Maggie Scott giving Oregon a 21-15 lead in Set 3. A Vander Weide kill made it 23-15. The Ducks won Set 3.
Texas opened Set 4 with tempo and took a 8-3 lead on the Ducks. The Longhorns continued to push to 17-10 lead before back to back points for Oregon. Jim Moore would watch his team battle again to a 5 point deficit at 20-15.
In the end, Texas was too much for the Oregon Ducks and the second ranked team in the country gave the home team their first loss of the 2016 season.
Oregon will look to regroup to face Florida on Saturday at 6:30pm Pacific Time.