EUGENE – After a historic pair of top-five upsets in the Bay Area last weekend, the No. 13 University of Oregon volleyball team (20-8, 13-7) made the biggest jump among Pac-12 teams in this week’s AVCA National Coaches Poll.

Matching its best ranking in more than a year, UO was one of six Pac-12 teams spotted in the top 13 nationally, and in previous weeks had been ranked No. 15 four editions, No. 16 five times, No. 18 once and No. 20 twice.

This week the Pac-12 featured at least four teams ranked top 10 for the 14th straight edition – No. 1 USC (24-4), No. 4 UCLA (24-5), No. 6 Stanford (21-6) and No. 10 California (25-6). No. 11 Washington followed just behind, and Arizona received votes for the 14th straight edition.

Compared to last week, USC repeated at No. 1 – its first appearances atop the polls since 2004; Oregon improved two spots; and four Pac-12 teams dropped positions - Stanford (-1), Washington (-1), UCLA (-2) and California (-7).

Among other teams in the top five, the former No. 4 team – now-No. 2 Nebraska – improved two spots after it won 3-1 vs. Minnesota and Wisconsin at home last weekend. No. 3 Hawai’i climbed three spots after it swept Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State at home. No. 5 Texas made its first appearance in the top five this season after it won 3-0 at home vs. Baylor and 3-1 at Missouri.

Under seventh-year head coach Jim Moore, the Ducks have been ranked top 25 in 74 polls, thanks to 59 straight editions from 2007-10 - more than double its previous best (28, 1986-88) - and two weeks late in 2006.

The Ducks come off their second-ever pair of weekend road wins at Stanford and California (and fourth overall), thanks to their five-set decisions over the returning league co-champions.

UO’s win Friday at then-No. 5 Stanford was its second ever in Palo Alto and fourth all-time overall in the series. Its comeback from an 0-2 deficit at then-No. 3 California Saturday was its second upset in Berkeley under Moore and sixth all-time on the road in the series in Pac-10/12 play.

Afterwards, the Ducks were rewarded as the first team this season to sweep Pac-12 Volleyball Player of the Week honors. Sophomore setter Lauren Plum and outside hitter Liz Brenner earned their second Offensive Player and Freshman of Week honors the past month, and junior libero Haley Jacob received her first Defensive Player of the Week award.
 
This weekend, Oregon caps the regular season with Civil War matches vs. Oregon State (15-15, 7-13) in Corvallis, Tuesday, November 22, and in Eugene on Friday, November 25. Both contests are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts.

The Oregon State home match Friday (11/25) at 7 p.m. is Pack Matt Night. Fans that show their Bi-Mart card at the door will get 2 for 1 admission. Civil War football ticket holders can also show their ticket for Saturday to also get in free to the volleyball match. And as any regular season match, Duck students get in for free with current student ID cards.

Later this weekend, the Ducks will then tune into the 64-team NCAA Tournament field announcement on Sunday, November 27 on ESPN-U at 3 p.m. Pacific Time.

The NCAA first and second rounds follow the weekend of Thursday-Saturday, December 1-3 at 16 yet-to-be-announced sites nationally.

 
AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll #13 (11/21/11)
Rank    School (1st-Pl)    Pts    W-L    Prev.
*1     USC (53)     1488     24-4     1        
2     Nebraska(2)     1424     23-3     4        
3     Hawai’i (5)     1289     26-1     6        
*4     UCLA     1229     24-5     2        
5     Texas     1215     20-4     9        
*6     Stanford     1180     21-6     5        
7     Illinois     1062     25-4     7        
8     Purdue     1041     25-4     8        
*9     Penn State     1023     21-7     12        
*10     California     987     25-6     3        
*11     Washington     934     21-7     10        
12     Northern Iowa     878     30-1     11        
>13     Oregon     807     20-8     15        
14     Iowa State     763     22-4     13        
15     Tennessee     686     26-3     14        
16     Kentucky     560     26-4     16        
17     Florida     541     23-5     17        
18     Pepperdine     519     21-6     18        
*19     Minnesota     364     16-11     19        
20     San Diego     328     27-4     20        
21     Florida State     297     24-5     21        
22     Michigan     201     19-11     23        
23     Long Beach State    174     20-6     24        
24     Western Kentucky     108     31-3     NR        
25     Miami (FL)     75     24-4     22     

Others Receiving Votes (and appearing on two or more ballots): Colorado State 58; Texas A&M 52; Ohio State 42; Dayton 29; Michigan State 29; Tulsa 29; *Arizona 24; Northern Illinois 15; Duke 13; Cincinnati 11; Kansas State 11; Oregon State 5.

Dropped Out: Ohio State 25



 
Volleyball Magazine Poll #13 (11/22/11)

Rk Team    Points    Prev.
*1. Southern California (9)    199    1
2. Nebraska (1)    189    4
3. Texas    167    5
4. Hawaii    162    6
*5. UCLA    160    2
*6. Stanford    147    7
7. Purdue    143    8
8. Illinois    123    9
*9. Penn State    122    10
*10. California    118    3
11. Northern Iowa    97    11
12. Washington    89    12
>13. Oregon    80    15
14. Iowa State    79    13
15. Tennessee    67    14
16. Pepperdine    45    17
17. Kentucky    38    18
18. Florida    37    16
*19. Minnesota    11    19
20. Florida State    9    20

Others Receiving Votes: Cincinnati, San Diego, Arizona, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Michigan State


* indicates Duck foes in 2011



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