Weekend Recap: WTEN @ Red-Blue Invitational & BVB @ Green Wave Invitational

WTEN: Red Blue Invitational in Tucson, AZ

The Oregon women took on three ranked teams over three days this weekend. Though they only picked up a single win, the losses were both close decisions that showed this team has the potential to compete with solid opponents if they can tighten up their play in clutch moments as the season goes on.

The Ducks began with #60 Grand Canyon University on Friday and claimed the doubles point 2-1. Bridget Mihulka defeated her singles opponent in straight sets to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead before the Antelopes rallied to win four consecutive matches and take the meet 4-2. There were key moments that could have flipped things around, however. Hinata Furutani was a single game away from defeating her opponent in straight sets, but lost a tie break 7-6 and couldn’t rally in the third set. Virginia Crocker had gone down in her first set 6-0, but showed impressive grit to force a tie break in the second set before also falling 7-6. A win in either match would have made the outcome rest on the shoulders of Olivia Symons who was leading in her third set when the meet was decided.

Due to the weekend’s tight schedule, the meet with #61 Denver University was split with doubles being played Friday afternoon followed by singles on Saturday morning. The Ducks again started hot, taking the doubles point 2-0.

Symons got Oregon off on the right foot faced when competition resumed with a victory in straight sets. Denver had some hope when veteran Patsy Daughters went down to make the team scores 2-1. The Ducks quickly ended the drama as Furutani and Milhulka triumphed in straight sets themselves to give Oregon a 4-1 victory. No match had gone to a third set, leaving the Ducks time to rest and regroup before taking on a familiar foe in fellow Pac-12 ex-pat and host #40 Arizona.

For the first time all weekend the Ducks dropped the doubles point, losing two close matches each by a score of 6-4. It would prove to be the difference as the two teams split the singles matches right down the middle. Symons won her match to tie the team scores, but Arizona put up two victories of their own to take a 3-1 lead. Unfortunately for the Wildcats one of their players suffered a minor injury and was forced to withdraw from the match against Crocker. Juliet Santitto’s three set victory set up Furutani to decide the entire competition. She played valiantly, splitting the first two sets 6-1, 2-6, before falling in set three by a 4-6 score.

Oregon will have a week off to rest and recuperate before beginning conference play in Eugene against Maryland and Rutgers on March 6 and 8, respectively. The Ducks are undefeated at home so far this year, and have yet to lose to an unranked opponent in 2026.

BVB: Green Wave Invitational in New Orleans, LA

Beach volleyball played a marathon in the Big Easy with three matches on Friday and two on Saturday.

The first matchup of the season against Texas A&M – Corpus Christie turned into a nail biter when the first four matches were split 2-2. Gwen Fife and AJ Slojkowski entered a decisive third set in the final match and were tied 6-6 before rattling off 8 consecutive points. Though their opponents picked up a few points of their own the lead was insurmountable and first year Head Coach Kristian Kuld picked up his first win with the program. There would be far less drama in the second meet as the Ducks swept an over-matched Spring Hill College squad without even dropping a set. Notably, Elsa Snipes and Josie Griffiths got their first wins as Ducks.

As the old saying goes, turn about is fair play. Oregon faced a much tougher opponent in #12 LSU and went down 0-5. Hanna Bjornson and Sofia Taylor won the only set the Ducks got against the Tigers, forcing their game into a third. Obviously it wasn’t the performance the team was hoping for, but it was also against a much more established program and one of the best the Ducks will see all season.

Oregon began play Saturday morning against another ranked opponent, this time their hosts #20 Tulane. The match was decided quickly when the Green Wave took a 3-0 lead, but victories by Fife and Slojkowski along with Natasha George and Katrena Koellner made the final score a very respectable 3-2. Indeed, the sixth exhibition match that didn’t count toward the outcome was also won by the Ducks. For a program with as tumultuous a history as Oregon BVB, even a moral victory against a ranked opponent is meaningful as they team looks to build a winning culture.

In their weekend finale the Ducks were staring down a 2-1 deficit and it began to look like a close loss to Tulane would be the highlight of the day. Fife and Slojkowski woudn’t let their squad go down quietly, defeating their opponents in straight sets. With the score tied 2-2 it was all down to Bella Gamache and Liz Rossi on the first court, who proceeded to put away their competition in straight sets to ensure a winning record to open the 2026 season.

It was an exciting outcome for a team that historically struggled, even against smaller schools. Oregon looks to keep the momentum going this Friday at the Cactus Classic in Tucson, AZ.