Oregon and Arizona schools

[wang pu]

osubeavers.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/100504aaa.html

Volleyball Opens Home Pac-10 Slate Against Arizona Schools
Beavers will face No. 21 Arizona on Friday at 7 p.m. in Gill Coliseum.

Oct. 5, 2004

CORVALLIS, Ore. -

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader



BEAVERS BRING PAC-10 ACTION TO CORVALLIS WITH MATCHES AGAINST THE ARIZONA SCHOOLS
THIS WEEK: Oregon State (8-4, 2-1 Pacific-10) hosts No. 21 Arizona (8-6, 0-4) on Friday, October 8, before facing Arizona State (5-7; 0-4) on Saturday, October 9. Both matches are set to start at 7 p.m.

WELCOME BACK: Oregon State returns to the friendly confines of Gill Coliseum for its first match in a month. The Beavers have played six straight matches on the road and nine of their first 12 matches were played outside of Corvallis. OSU is 2-1 on the season at home - knocking off both Oral Roberts and Auburn in the Salbasgeon Suites Invitation (Sept. 10-11), before dropping a five-game thriller to Saint Mary's College.

A LOOK AT No. 21 ARIZONA: The Wildcats enter the week with an 8-6 overall record and 0-4 mark in the Pac-10. UA had won six straight matches (including victories against No. 9 Pepperdine and No. 18 Louisville) before opening Pac-10 play with four consecutive losses. Junior All-American Kim Glass, who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury, leads the team with 4.20 kpg despite seeing action in just 15 games. Jennifer Abernathy adds a team-best 189 kills (4.11 kpg), to go along with 111 digs (2.41 dpg). The Wildcats have yet to hit .200 in a Pac-10 match this season.

SERIES RECORDS: Oregon State is just 10-27 all-time against Arizona. The Wildcats have won 15 consecutive matches against the Beavers dating back to the 1996 season. OSU's last victory against UA (3-1) was in Gill Coliseum on Sept. 27, 1996. Seven of Oregon State's 10 victories against Arizona have come in Corvallis.

A LOOK AT ARIZONA STATE: The Sun Devils enter the week with a 5-7 overall record and 0-4 mark in the Pac-10. Sophomore Nicole Morton leads the team with 143 kills (3.58 kpg) and is second on the squad in digs with 106 (2.65 dpg). Libero Sydney Donahue is averaging a team-best 4.02 digs per outing. Five of ASU's seven losses have come against teams ranked in the Top 25.

SERIES RECORDS: Oregon State holds an 11-26 all-time record against Arizona State. The teams are an even 4-4 in the series over the past four years. The Beavers swept the Sun Devils in the last meeting between the squads on Nov. 13, 2003 in Corvallis.

LOOKING BACK AT WSU: Oregon State opened Pac-10 action with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1993 when the Beavers knocked off Washington State University, 3-1, last Friday. The victory also marked the second straight for OSU against WSU in Pullman. Senior Allison Lawrence led the attack with her ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 19 kills and matching her season-best of 17 digs. Karah Rhoades, Abby Windell and Amanda Eggert all reached double figures in kills, while Nina Baltimore recorded a career-high 24 digs. OSU hit .234 for the match compared to WSU's .166 clip, and held a 70-46 advantage on digs.

LOOKING BACK AT UW: Allison Lawrence's 10 kills and 12 digs highlighted Oregon State's 3-0 loss to No. 2 ranked University of Washington last Saturday. OSU struggled offensively, hitting just .109 for the match compared to UW's .344 mark. Abby Windell led the Beavers with a .381 attack percentage to go along with nine kills. For the fifth time on the season, and second straight match, Nina Baltimore led the team in digs, finishing with 13. Three Husky players reached double figures in kills, including Brie Hagerty's 13 kills, .435 attack percentage, and five blocks.

FAST FACT: The last time Oregon State won its Pac-10 home opener, the Beavers went to the NCAA Tournament. OSU swept Washington, 30-22, 30-24, 30-24, on Sept. 27, 2001 and after finishing the regular season with a 17-11 record, earned its second NCAA Tournament berth in program history.

CHECKING THE CAREER CHARTS: Senior Allison Lawrence registered her 1,000th career kill against University of Oregon on Sept. 24, and currently ranks in 9th place in the OSU record book with 1,042. Lawrence leads the squad with 182 kills (3.96 kpg) and has reached double figures in 11 of Oregon State's 12 matches. She could also reach 1,000 digs before the season ends. Lawrence came into this season with 629 career digs, but she had 388 digs as a junior, so a repeat performance would put her over 1,000. With 144 so far this year, her career total stands at 773.

BEAVERS IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Oregon State players have already earned several spots in the OSU record books with their performances this year. Abby Windell hit .704 against Saint Louis to break the OSU record for hitting percentage in a five-game match (it was also good for the fifth-best hitting percentage in any match. She had a career-high 20 kills in that match). Allison Lawrence had a career-high 28 kills in that same match, tying for 10th on OSU's single-match list. Desma Stovall's 75 assists against Saint Mary's puts her in a tie for sixth on that list.

[wang pu]

thesundevils.collegesports.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/100604aaa.html

The Arizona State Volleyball team (5-7, 0-4 Pac-10) takes back to the road this weekend with a pair of matches at Oregon (9-4, 1-2 Pac-10) and Oregon State (8-4, 2-1 Pac-10). The Sun Devils have lost four straight matches and will finally take a break from playing a ranked opponent. ASU has played five of the last six matches against teams ranked in the AVCA/CSTV top 25. ASU opens the road trip Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Oregon Ducks at McArthur Court and then plays Oregon State Saturday at 7 p.m. at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis.
Scouting Oregon:
With a 9-4 overall record and a 1-2 mark in Pac-10 play, Oregon is off to one of their best starts in school history. The win over Washington State last weekend marked Oregon's first Pac-10 win since 2002. The Ducks lead the Pac-10 in service aces (2.56 per game average), but will be playing without start outside hitter Lauren Westendorf (5.06 kpg). Westendorf tore her ACL and will not play the rest of the season. ASU leads the all-time series against Oregon 29-7 and has won 12 straight over the Ducks dating back to 1997.

Scouting Oregon State:
The Beavers head into the weekend tied for fifth place in the Pac-10 with a 2-1 record and an overall 8-4 mark. Oregon State has beaten rival Oregon and Washington State and lost to No. 1 Washington. Senior outside hitter Allison Lawrence leads the Beavers and ranks seventh in the Pac-10 averaging 3.96 kpg. ASU leads the all-time series against OSU 26-11 and has won three of the last four matches against the Beavers.

Recapping Last Weekend:
The Sun Devils faced two of the premier volleyball programs in the nation last weekend to open home action in Pac-10 play. The Devils lost a pair of three-game matches to two-time defending national champion USC (21-30, 28-30, 21-30) and No. 10 UCLA (18-30, 28-30, 22-30). Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Morton led the Sun Devils averaging 3.40 kpg and 2.40 dpg during the two matches. Freshman middle blocker Colette Meek averaged 2.00 kpg and 1.20 blocks per game.

Baby Devils:
The 2004 roster consists of seven freshman, three sophomores, one junior and three seniors. With season-ending knee injuries to seniors Natalie Harris (OH) and Giovana Melo (S), the Sun Devils are left with only two active upperclassmen on the roster. During parts of both matches last weekend, the Devils featured five freshmen and one sophomore on the court.

Morton Leads The Way:
Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Morton (Bonsall, Calif.) has turned into ASU's offensive workhorse due to the knee injury of senior outside hitter Natalie Harris. Morton leads the team averaging 3.58 kills per game and 3.97 points per game, and is also second with 2.65 digs per game. She has led the team in kills in eight of ASU's 12 matches this season and has recorded five double-doubles.

Quick Sets:


ASU has played a ranked opponent in five of its last six matches, including four straight.
The Pac-10 currently has six teams ranked in the AVCA/CSTV top 25, including #1 Washington.
ASU has lost senior OH Natalie Harris and senior setter Giovana Melo to ACL injuries this season.
ASU finished 9-18 overall and placed ninth in the Pac-10 last year with a 4-14 record.
The Devils have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last five seasons (1999, 2000, 2002).
The 2004 schedule includes 15 matches against teams that played in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Morton has double-digits in kills in nine of 12 matches.
Middle blocker Colette Meek has recorded three or more blocks in 11 of 12 matches.
Libero Sydney Donahue leads the team and ranks sixth in the Pac-10 with 4.02 dpg.
Outside hitter Sarah Watkins ranks ninth in the Pac-10 averaging 0.36 service aces per game.
The Sun Devil roster consists of seven freshman, three sophomores, one junior and three seniors.

[wang pu]

www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=78055

OREGON THIS WEEK — Oregon (9-4, 1-2) looks to move above .500 in Pac-10 play when it plays host to the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-7, 0-4) and No. 21 Arizona Wildcats (8-6, 0-4), Friday and Saturday at McArthur Court.

OREGON LAST WEEK — The Ducks split their trip to Washington, losing to the No. 1 Huskies, 3-0, then defeating the Cougars, 3-0. The win marked the first victory over WSU since 1990. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Mason tied a career-high with 19 kills against the Cougs.

SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE — The Sun Devils have struggled to start the season, opening Pac-10 play 0-4. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Morton leads the team with 3.58 kills per game. Freshman middle blocker Colette Meek ranks fifth in the Pac-10 with 1.36 blocks per game. As a team, ASU ranks third in the Pac-10 with 2.83 bpg. The Sun Devils own a 29-7 all-time edge over the Ducks.

SCOUTING ARIZONA — The Wildcats have dropped their last four matches. The team is led by junior outside hitter Lauren Abernathy who ranks fourth in the Pac-10 with 4.11 kpg. As a team, the Wildcats rank fifth in hitting percentage (.235), and fifth in blocks per game (2.78). The Wildcats own a 31-8 all-time edge over Oregon.

HEAD COACH CARL FERREIRA — Carl Ferreira enters his fifth season as head coach of the Oregon volleyball program. After four seasons of change and restructuring, Ferreira will coach a team that features 12 returning letterwinners.

Ferreira's recruiting classes have featured three Volleyball Magazine Fab-50 athletes, the 2001 National Junior College Player of the Year, a high school All-American and a member of the 2002 Puerto Rican National Team and numerous all-state performers from across the northwest.

Since arriving at Oregon, the 11th-year collegiate head coach's first goal has been to recruit the best talent within the Pacific Northwest. The 2004 squad features seven players from the state of Oregon, three from British Columbia, one from Alaska and one from Washington.

In 2003, Ferreira guided a team that included 11 underclassmen. Out of that group, Ferreira coached first-team Pac-10 All-Freshman Sarah Mason, which marked the second-time (first since 1985) in program history the Ducks placed players on a first-team All-Freshman squad in back-to-back seasons (Dariam Acevedo-2002).

GOOD STARTS — Despite last season’s troubles, head coach Carl Ferreira has a history of helping put the Ducks in good standing before entering Pac-10 play. During his five years at the helm, the Ducks have played their first Pac-10 games with records of 8-2 (2004), 3-5 (2003), 9-3 (2002), 8-1 (2001), and 6-1 (2000).

GOOD STARTS PT. 2 — The Ducks are off to one of their best starts in the last 20 years. If the Ducks can pick up a win(s) against the Arizona schools, it will be the quickest to 10 victories for an Oregon team since 1991 when the Ducks started the season 10-1.

STAYING CLOSE TO HOME — The Ducks will enjoy not having to travel much this season outside of their annual trips to each Pac-10 school. Oregon plays nine non-conference games within the state of Oregon, with its only non-conference road trip being the Sacramento Invitational.

IMPRESSIVE WINS — Not only did the Ducks claim the 2004 Oregon Classic Tournament crown, but they did it in dramatic fashion, defeating 2003 NCAA Tournament participants No. 25 Colorado and Cal-Northridge on back-to-back nights.

INJURY — The Ducks were dealt a huge blow when Westendorf tore her ACL against Oregon State. Unfortunately for the senior outside hitter, her season and career are likely over. The Bakersfield, Calif. native had already set career-highs in virtually every category, and was on pace to having one of the best overall seasons in Oregon history.

ATTENDANCE MARK — The Ducks match against Oregon State at McArthur Court marked the fifth largest crowd for a volleyball match in Mac Court history — 1,902.

STEPPING UP — Coach Ferreira called upon his two sophomore outside hitters, Mason and Little, to pick up the slack for the injured Westendorf. The duo has responded by posting season-high’s in kills, attempts, and attack pct. during the last three games.

SHATTERED RECORDS — Against Seton Hall, not only did two Oregon records fall, but two Pac-10 marks as well. Lauren Westendorf set a Duck and Pac-10 record with 12 service aces. The previous Oregon record was held by Amy McNeel (8, 1995) and previous Pac-10 record by Stanford’s Teresa Smith (10, 1986). Oregon set the team mark with 22 aces. The mark topped the Ducks 1988 and 1989 squads (18 aces) and Oregon State’s 1987 team (19 aces).

TEAM ACE — After currently owning the Pac-10 single-game service ace mark of 22, the Ducks now claim three of the top six single-game service ace performances in Pac-10 Conference history. Oregon currently boasts four players among the top ten in service aces per game in the Pac-10. As a team, the Ducks currently own three of the top four single-match service ace performances among Pac-10 teams this season.

PAC-10 INDIVIDUAL RANKS — Among the individual Pac-10 leaders are Sarah Mason No. 2 service aces per game - 0.62, No. 9 kills per game - 3.88, No. 4 points per game - 4.88; Kristen Bitter No.10 blocks per game - 1.06; Stephanie Alleman No. 9 digs per game - 3.26; Katie O’Neil No. 5 dpg - 4.23, No. 4 aces per game - 0.42, Heather Madison No. 6 assists per game - 11.69; Kim McNally No. 10 aces per game - 0.36.

[wang pu]

barometer.orst.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/10/07/41657cd879524

Junior Kristy Mortensen was one of top junior-college volleyball players in nation


By Lacey Gable
The Daily Barometer


Kristy Mortensen gets ready to serve the ball during a recent practice at Gill Coliseum. The junior setter from colorado has been a welcome addition to the Beavers this year, after attending junior college the previous two seasons
Justin Runquist
The Daily Barometer

After completing two successful years at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., junior Kristy Mortensen decided that OSU was a perfect fit for her.

Although the Beaver coaches were not able to personally see her in action before asking her to come for a visit, watching her play on video was enough.

"When I got here I just really liked the coaching staff and felt comfortable with the girls," Mortensen said. "OSU was a really good fit for me. I liked the size of the town."

Mortensen had made a name for herself after being selected a second team NJCAA All-American her sophomore year.

With all of her seasoning in junior college play, Mortensen gained valuable experience that would carry over into Pacific-10 play.

"We had the opportunity to go to nationals, and there, we faced a lot of really tough competition and a lot of international players at the national tournament," Mortensen said. "I think that definitely gave me a small glimpse at what the Pac-10 is like, but I still think that it's a pretty big leap from the junior college to the Pac-10. It's been different. It's a lot more competitive here, and I like it."

The competitive edge in the Pac-10 Conference appealed to Mortensen when she was considering OSU, as well as her future teammates.

"She's a joy to have on the team," said Brittany Cahoon, a junior middle-back player. "She is always ready to play and knows her role. She never has a downside. She's done a good job adjusting and getting to know the girls; her hard work is showing."

Mortensen joined the Beavers for spring practice this year and has already made her presence felt.

Her enthusiasm and team spirit has also been a major contribution to the team.

"Kristy is a hard worker," coach Ben Somera said. "She's always good to have. She gives us depth in our setting position and gives us another tough server."

Along with her strengths at setting, Mortensen has proven to be a talented server. She puts power behind the ball to earn services aces. In the win against WSU Oct. 1, she had three services aces, along with 10 assists.

"She's done a good job putting herself in the position to be around the players a lot and build good rapport," Somera said. "It's a continuing process with her skills. She is getting better every week and her contributions will only get bigger."

Although Mortensen never played club volleyball, as most players do, she began playing the sport at a young age and has loved it ever since. Along with volleyball, Mortensen also played basketball and soccer but wound up choosing volleyball as the sport she wanted to pursue.

"My mom was a gymnast, so definitely volleyball wasn't what she expected of me," Mortensen said. "I started playing in middle school, and from there, I really liked it, and I just played throughout high school."

With her light-hearted attitude and tough work ethic, Mortensen has provided the team with a consistently positive attitude and willingness to do what needs to be done.

"She brings a lot of steadiness to the court with her setting," said Abby Windell, a sophomore middle-back player. "Kristy is always calm and collected. I can tell her to do something, and she'll do it immediately, and she always plays with a smile on her face in practice and games."

Mortensen grew up in the small town of Aurora, Colo., and enjoys playing various sports and enjoys the outdoors. Camping with her family is one of her favorite pastimes. She derives much of her inspiration for playing volleyball from her family, who she values spending time with.

"I have three brothers," Mortensen said. "Seeing my older brothers excel in sports made me want to be good, too. I look up to them in a lot of ways because they've been successful."

A human development and family sciences major, Mortensen is enjoying what OSU and Corvallis has to offer.

She likes the town because of its scenic appeal and its location. While at OSU, Mortensen wants to make the most of her opportunities and graduate with her degree and begin a successful career. She said that volleyball has taught her a lot about life.

"Playing volleyball has taught me how to deal with challenges and that things don't always come easy," Mortensen said. "If you work really hard at something, you'll find your place and your comfort.

"I've learned that working hard is the most important thing. If you give your best effort, the outcome will be good."