QUACK BACK: Volume VI

DUCKS VOLLEYBALL DROPS PAIR

Womens Volleyball (photo courtesy Goducks.com)

In front of a record crowd of 6,210 the 15th ranked Women's Volleyball team faced their stiffest challenge of the season. After playing very competitive early against the Cal Bears on Friday night, the women lost 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-12). It was a tough loss for the Ducks to the defending national runner up and #4 ranked Bears team.


With no time to sulk, the volleyball team faced #7 Stanford the next night. For the first time this year, the women lost consecutive matches for the first time this season. After taking the first set 25-22, Stanford reeled off three straight sets 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 to take the match. Though the Ducks stayed close throughout, Stanford gave the women their first two match losing streak of the season. The losses dropped the Ducks to 12-4 overall and 5-3 in conference. Next up for the women is a trip to Los Angeles to take on USC next Friday followed by UCLA on Saturday October 15.

LAMICHAEL JAMES INJURES ELBOW IN ANOTHER RECORD SETTING PERFORMANCE

LaMichael James, (photo Courtesy Duck Sports Authority)

Never before had an Oregon Duck running back crossed the 200 yard rushing plateau in three consecutive games. In fact, it had not happened for any team in the conference since Hall-of-Famer Marcus Allen accomplished the feat for the USC Trojans in 1981. The career an single season record holder in all major rushing categories, who has proven his toughness time and again, made Autzen Stadium quieter than any opponent when he went down early in the 4th quarter with what appeared to be a serious arm injury.

After the game, James assured Duck fans he would play again this season. He had "only" dislocated his elbow and vowed a quick return. For his 30 carry, 239 yard performance, James was, once again, named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week.

FOOTBALL ROUTS CALIFORNIA
 

With LaMicheal James in the locker room, Darron Thomas completed a 3 yard touchdown pass to Lavasier Tuinei to complete the second half barrage that turned a 15-14 halftime deficit into a 43-15 win. Though the score was close in the first half, Cal never really stopped Oregon as the Ducks rolled to 270 first half yards.

The Duck defense played magnificently in the second half shutting down the Bears potent passing attack for most of the third and fourth quarter. A nice goal line stand ensured that the Bears would go scoreless in the second half.




MATT KNIGHT MADNESS

With the turning of the calendar to October, college basketball quickly approaches. The Ducks open the beginning of basketball with their own version of midnight madness. According to the team's twitter account, at midnight on October 14th (that's this Friday), the Ducks will open the official beginning of practice with an extravaganza expected to include some all-time Duck hardwood greats and some fantastic prizes. The second season under Coach Dana Altman looks to improve on an overachieving season that saw the team take the CBI title in dramatic fashion.

There are new sales plans this season for including 3-game "mini-plans" for just $36. Time for Duck fans to start filling the new arena!