The Arizona volleyball team fared no better in its second outing of the season against No. 16 Oregon.
The Ducks swept the Wildcats last night 30-20, 30-18 and 31-29, handing Arizona (12-10, 2-8 Pacific 10 Conference) its fifth straight loss.
The Wildcats hit only .193, while Oregon (16-6, 5-5) posted a blistering .423 average.
Ducks junior Gorana Maricic finished with a match-high 23 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
Freshman outside hitter Tiffany Owens led the Wildcats with 16 kills at a .324 clip, along with two service aces and four digs.
Owens has posted double-digit kills in the last three matches and in six of the last eight.
Freshman setter Paige Weber posted a team-high 29 assists.
Game three featured 14 ties and three lead changes. Arizona held a 29-27 advantage, before committing a couple of late miscues.
Leading 13-10 in game two, Oregon went on a decisive 10-3 run. The Ducks hit .594.
Oregon started game one with a 7-3 edge, which grew to 14-8. Arizona was able to pull within two points before the Ducks pulled away on a 10-2 run.
Arizona takes on Oregon State tonight at 7 at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore. The Wildcats swept the Beavers on Sept. 16 and have beaten OSU in 22 consecutive matches.
Arizona’s last loss in the teams’ series came back in 1996.
ASU swept OSU (9-13, 2-8) last night, while OSU has lost 10 of its last 12 matches overall.
Arizona head coach Dave Rubio did not return calls seeking comment last night.