Oregon to Start 2017 Season Against Nebraska and Texas

The University of Oregon volleyball team starts their season with a bang at the VERT Challenge in Gainesville, Florida against the powerhouse programs of Nebraska and Texas. Both programs appeared in the 2016 Final Four and have won the NCAA championship with Nebraska winning in 2015 and Texas winning in 2012.

The Ducks will be led by a new head coach in Matt Ulmer after UO parted ways with the long-time coaching pair of Jim Moore and Stacy Metro. Ulmer has been with the program for the past three seasons, following his stint at Long Beach State where he helped the 49ers win a beach title in 2013.

After the VERT Challenge, Oregon returns to Eugene to host the Oregon Classic against University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Loyola Marymount and Northern Illinois.

Following the Oregon Classic challenge, Oregon gets to play at home for the second straight weekend when they host the Nike Classic from September 7-9. On the slate that weekend are Cal Poly, Wichita State and Duquesne.

As part of the Pac-12 Network, the Ducks will have 16 of their 28 matches televised. The first televised match will be on the final non-conference weekend with the Nike Classic opener against Cal Poly on Sept. 7.

The majority of the conference matches will be televised with the Pac-12 Network showing 14 and ESPNU televising the showdown with Stanford on Oct. 6.

The Oregon Ducks return most of their starting lineup losing Kacy Nady and Amanda Benson to graduation. This young squad will be looking to improve upon their 2016 campaign after losing to Michigan in the second round. Oregon returns All-American Lindsey Vander Weide as well as a freshman standout middle blocker, Ronika Stone.