The lights at Matthew Knight Arena dimmed, and the sellout crowd listened intently as the New York Liberty’s starters were announced.

Finally, the last two starters were revealed: Nyara Sabally, Oregon and Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon. The fans in unison cheered perhaps louder than the arena had witnessed since the pair played for an Oregon women’s basketball team years prior that won Pac-12 Championships and secured a Final Four appearance in 2019.

The duo made their long-awaited homecoming as the WNBA defending champion New York Liberty faced off against the Toyota Antelopes of the Japan Women’s Basketball League. New York’s final preseason tuneup on Monday ended in an 84-61 victory. 

“I got emotional before the game and the buzzer went off and I just kind of started looking around the arena and saw every single seat taken,” Ionescu said. “ I kind of was looking at all the areas that I used to when I sat there, getting ready for an Oregon game, and I kind of got teary-eyed.”

The Liberty seemingly began the game with an emphasis on getting the two former Ducks on the board early. Sabally recorded her squad’s first point at the free throw stripe to the crowd’s pleasure. She finished with seven points, five rebounds and the team was plus-15 with Sabally on the floor.

“This is a very special one for me,” Sabally said about where this game ranks for her at Matthew Knight Arena. “It’s a separate category because this is like with a whole different team, but it ranks pretty high, just being able to come back here and experience that with the crowd.”

The fans went into another frenzy once Ionescu drained her first 3-pointer of the game with 5:56 left in the first quarter.

Ionescu never got the opportunity to play one last game at Matthew Knight Arena in an Oregon jersey. Her senior season with the Ducks ended with the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament — which Oregon was expected to host first and second-round games — due to COVID-19.

A little over five years later, she received one last hurrah in front of Ducks fans — this time in a seafoam Liberty jersey. Ionescu ended with 25 points on 8-for-13 from the field.

“The reception that she had from start of warm ups, it just shows how much they love her here and how much she loves them,” Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said. “She never disappoints. She loves the moment. I suppose a little nervous coming back. She wanted to do so well, so it’s a great ending for her to finish as strong as she did.”

While it was a special homecoming for Ionescu and Sabally, it was another opportunity for the Antelopes to bring attention to Japanese women’s basketball. Toyota stayed well within striking distance, only trailing by two at the end of the first.

The Antelopes hit nine first-half triples, but Breanna Stewart, Marine Johannès and Ionescu combined for 32 of the Liberty’s 43 points heading into the locker room.

New York came out of halftime with the necessary adjustments to gain separation. It was Ionescu who gifted the team the double-digit advantage with a deep 3-pointer that was at the bottom of the Oregon center court logo.

“I didn’t really realize how far it was, but I think just playing into the energy,” Ionescu said. “Figured I might as well shoot one like I used to back when I was here, and thankful it went in and the crowd erupted.”

Ionescu continued to catch fire entering the fourth. The final period started with back-to-back 3’s by the Duck grad. She drilled her sixth triple of the game before the Antelopes took a timeout, and she waved to the crowd’s ovation, checking out for the final time. 

“This was just a thank you. This wasn’t any type of celebration for me,” Ionescu said. “I think it was just me wanting to celebrate the University of Oregon and what it’s done for me in my career.”

The Liberty are set to tip off their season on May 17 against the Las Vegas Aces and receive their 2024 Championship rings.

The post New York Liberty defeats Toyota Antelopes 84-61 on Sabrina Ionescu Day appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Eugene City Mayor Kaarin Knudson proclaimed May 12 Sabrina Ionescu Day ahead of Ionescu’s on-court return to Matthew Knight Arena.

Ionescu’s WNBA team, the New York Liberty, practiced at Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday afternoon with their final preseason game looming. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello closed her post-practice remarks by revealing Mayor Knudson as their “special guest.”

“A lot of fans in Eugene track back the beginning of their experience as huge fans of women’s basketball to the years that Sabrina was leading that team,” Mayor Knudson said. “We just wanted to share the love that people feel for her as a player and for this team. We’re so grateful and so happy to have the Liberty here.”

Knudson read a list of Ionescu’s collegiate and professional basketball accomplishments to the Liberty huddle. She added one more feat to Ionescu’s career: having a day in her honor.

“I never thought that I’d be in a position to have a day named after me,” Ionescu said to her Liberty teammates after they rallied around her in “speech” chants. “This is pretty special to be able to give back to the University of Oregon. This community has meant so much to me and allowed me to be where I’m at now in my professional career and give back to the next little Sabrina that’s running around here in Eugene.”

Knudson attended the end of Liberty practice, joined by her two daughters, who she said are basketball fans. She added that Ionescu’s efforts to mentor and inspire the next generation are part of why it was important to honor her.

“She’s done so much work through her foundation to make sure that all kids have an opportunity to play and to have access to physical activity,” Mayor Knudson said. “That’s where the beginning of any extraordinary career begins, right?”

The former WNBA No. 1 overall pick also held her SI20 Basketball Clinic at Matthew Knight Arena hours before Sunday’s Liberty practice.

Ionescu, former Duck Nyara Sabally and the New York Liberty will play the Toyota Antelopes on Monday, with tip set for 7 p.m.

The post May 12 proclaimed Sabrina Ionescu Day in Eugene appeared first on Daily Emerald.

The stadium lights illuminated Hayward Field. Fans filed into the green seats in the stadium; their cheers grew louder whenever the public address announcer named University of Oregon competitors.

The home fans helped fuel distance runner Klaudia Kazimierska’s final push in her 800-meter and 1500-meter first-place finishes, as well as Silan Ayyildiz and Matthew Erickson in their successful races later in the weekend.

“When my name was announced, I felt like everybody was screaming,” Kazimierska said. “My friends are here. My mentor is here, and lots of friends just from Eugene.”

Track and field is officially back in Eugene. The Ducks returned to their home stadium on April 18 and 19 for the Oregon Open and Oregon Team Invitational.

Ayyildiz, a junior distance runner, entered the outdoor season off of a historic indoor season. She shattered the NCAA record in the mile and won the 5000-meter Big Ten title. Still, Ayyildiz said she felt “nervous” heading into the 800-meter at the Oregon Team Invitational, saying she was getting used to the speed.

“I think it’s good practice to run a home meet,” Ayyildiz said, noting that her home is about a two-minute walk from the stadium. “I was like, I don’t know what to do today. I was just waiting all day for (the race).”

The Big Ten indoor champion ended up recording a lifetime best of 2:03.11 in her first competition of the season in front of her home crowd.

Oregon track and field athletes get to spend a lot of time at Hayward this season. They’ll return for the Oregon Twilight on May 9, and then Eugene will host the Big Ten Championships for the first time at the end of May and the NCAA Championships in June.

“Having that home-field advantage gives us a lot of confidence,” Erickson, a middle-distance runner, said. “I’m comfortable in this environment. I have warm-up loops I’ve been warming up on for four years now. Just the spots in and around Eugene, my friends and family are usually at these meets. It just feels like home, and so I take some confidence. There’s a relaxation there.”

The post The ‘magic’ returns to Hayward appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Oregon junior Silan Ayyildiz trailed a couple of runners coming off the curve in the final lap of the women’s 800m. Ayyildiz pumped her arms as she sped past everyone in the field, the Hayward fans ecstatic in cheers as she inched closer to success. She crossed the finish line with a new lifetime best: 2:03.11.

“Today, I was really kind of nervous because I’m still getting used to the speed a little bit,” Ayyildiz said. “But I had the PR, so I can’t complain.”

Seven schools took the track to compete at Hayward on Saturday for the Oregon Team Invitational: Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Wichita State, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Utah and the host program, Oregon.

Klaudia Kazimierska entered the women’s 1500m off an 800m victory at the Oregon Open on Friday. She looked to start the evening with a Ducks’ victory — but her teammate Mia Barnett was just as motivated to cross the finish line first. 

Barnett set the pace for much of the race with the Oregon duo leading the field. With 200m to go, Kazimierska made the move and passed her teammate to clock in at 4:07.28.

“I was planning to go on the 400 to go but because of this wind on the back stretch, I was kind of waiting with that move,” Kazimierska said. “200 to go, okay, I can’t wait anymore. I just need to go. I need to give my all today.”

Barnett came in second also posting a top 10 time in Division I this season.

“Mia is always the one that is pushing the pace,” Kazimierska said. “I really appreciate that, because I’m more concerned as a runner, and I’m waiting for that kick and Mia is brave and she can push the pace from the start.”

The Oregon Team Invitational followed NCAA rules, which made it an officially non-scored competition. The event did introduce an unofficial “Fan Scoring,” however, meaning that Kazimierska’s placing gave Oregon an unofficial 14 points.

“I love team competition. I think that having an event that can bring the team together like this, I’m all for it,” Oregon 800m runner Matthew Erickson said. “I love competition. I feel like this does a really good job at focusing on wins rather than time, focuses on like a team, competitiveness rather than individuality.”

The men’s 1500m followed Kazimierska’s victory where Oregon sophomore Rheinhardt Harrison finished second. Harrison recorded a time of 3:39.07 but came 0:00.16 seconds after Texas A&M sophomore Luca Santorum’s personal record.

A competitive women’s 400m race had the Ducks’ Ella Clayton battling with two Aggies in the final stretch. The Oregon senior couldn’t find the final gear in the last 20m and ended in third, but still delivered another 12 points for the Ducks.

The Hayward crowd shouted words of encouragement throughout the men’s 400m race, as Oregon’s Fuad Omer got off to a quick start. In the last 100m it appeared that the race was his, but Wichita State senior Joakim Genereux turned on the jets to set a new personal record — and finish 0:00.06 seconds before Fuad.

The men’s 800m featured just as chaotic of an ending as the women’s. Erickson also passed the rest of the field coming off the curve with his fellow Duck Koitatoi Kidali trailing close behind.

“Today, the emphasis was on the win and so it was, what decisions can you make throughout the race that optimized your chances to win the race?” Erickson said. “That’s what I did today. I was just going in, trying to make decisions that I felt were in my best interest to win the race.”

The final win of the day for the Ducks came in the 5000m. Ayyildiz set the pace for the event shortly after her 800m race. Her teammate Juliet Cherubet ultimately came in first with a time of 15:28.86 — moving up to 12th in Division I.

Collegiate track and field returns to Hayward on May 9 for the Oregon Twilight.

The post Oregon Team Invitational Track Recap appeared first on Daily Emerald.

The fans at Hayward cheered as Oregon junior Klaudia Kazimierska made the move at the belt to pull ahead of the rest of her competitors. Despite the next three athletes in the 800m all recording personal records, Kazimierska returned to her home track for the first time since June 2024 with a first-place finish.

“Honestly, we didn’t have any strategy,” Kazimierska said. “I wasn’t feeling right this morning, so we were just staying in lane, just trusting instincts, and just race.”

Tracktown USA is the place to be in the thick of the outdoor track and field season. The Oregon track program witnessed several members like Kazimierska take victory laps in its first home meet in about a month. All 21 track events for the Oregon Open took place on Friday at Hayward Field.

The women’s 3000m steeplechase kicked off the events on the track with four Oregon athletes competing. The Ducks duo of Katie Clute and Kendall Martin started to gain separation from the rest of the pack by the beginning of lap three.

Clute clocked in at 10:13.16 — a new season best, with Martin recording a personal record. Utah’s Sona Kourilova passed Martin during the final lap to finish in third.

Benjamin Balazs, Sergio Del Barrio and Vincent Mestler represented the Ducks in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Similarly to the women’s, Balazs and Del Barrio competed at the front of the group for much of the event. Balazs gained about 80m on his teammate with two laps to go to set a new personal record of 8:34.72. Del Barrio ended in second, while Mestler came in fourth, while a personal record.

The 3000m steeplechase races were followed by a pair of two-team 4x100m relays between Oregon and Wichita State. Amirah Shaheed anchored the Ducks to a 44.25 season-best, which beat the Shockers by nearly two seconds. The men’s 4x100m relay was the first track event that Oregon failed to finish in first. The Ducks didn’t finish after a failed handoff between the second and third leg.

Oklahoma State dominated the women’s 1500m in the third heat, with four Cowgirls recording personal records and finishing first through fourth. UO Running Club’s Avery Hackenberg ran in second for most of the first heat but finished third, while Allura Markow recorded a time of 4:32.00 to end in 12th overall in the field of 28.

The men’s 1500m featured only two heats. The second one of the afternoon showcased a plethora of green uniforms, but Oklahoma State once again recorded the top two times. Oregon’s Koitatoi Kidali narrowly beat his teammate Matthew Erickson to the finish line for both fourth in the heat and overall. Erickson and Duck sophomore Jeffery Rogers finished in fifth and sixth overall.

Later in the evening, Oregon freshman Mihaly Akpamgo set a season best in the 100m by clocking in at 10.61 seconds. Akpamgo finished 0.06 seconds before second place to be the first Duck to finish first-overall since the women won the 4x100m two hours earlier. He competed in the 200m as well, where he crossed the finish line at 21.51 for a fourth-place finish.

Hayward Field erupted in sound once Kazimierska’s name was announced just before 6:30 p.m. Kazimierska gained separation in the second lap of the 800m to burst ahead of the rest of the field.

“I didn’t know actually where my shape [was] at,” Kazimierska said. “I just know that now going into 1500, it was a good opener.”

Kazimierska’s friends and fans in the crowd at Hayward once again screamed her name in excitement as she clocked in at 2:02.80. She was followed by her teammates Mia Barnett and Samantha McDonnell.

“They performed really well. We were working out together in the past couple weeks, so I knew that we are all in the same shape,” Kazimierska said. “I didn’t know that I’m gonna win today. I honestly expect that. I felt I’m gonna go for like, third or fourth.”

The Ducks’ day ended with redshirt senior Annika Thompson coming in first for the women’s 5000m, while Evan Bishop and Evan Burke finished first and second in the men’s.

The men’s and women’s hammer throw concludes the Oregon Open tomorrow, beginning at 1:45 p.m. Hayward then hosts the Team Invitational on Saturday.

The post Oregon Open Track Recap appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Over a dozen media members and NBA scouts filed through the glass doors at the Coach Krzyzewski Fitness Center as Team World’s practice finished. Soon-to-be Hall of Famer, Carmelo Anthony, stood on the opposite side of the gym to watch his son, Kiyan, practice the afternoon before the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit. Cameras followed the father-son duo.

Meanwhile, the Team USA women’s squad began to take the court for their practice session. By the time the clock on the far wall hit 1 p.m., the media were all gone.

I sat with my pen and notepad next to about half a dozen family members. What was a gym full of credentialed press minutes before had only me, Saturday’s television analyst — LaChina Robinson — and one other journalist remaining.

The Nike Hoop Summit has been a key part of my journalistic journey. It’s an annual event held in Portland, Ore., which showcases the top high school basketball players in a game between Team USA and Team World. In my three years of covering the event, I’ve learned what sports coverage looks like outside of my little Eugene bubble, I’ve grown more comfortable interviewing big-name athletes and most importantly, I’ve discovered more about my role as a media member covering women’s sports.

I’ll never forget my first Nike Hoop Summit two years prior. It was the first event I ever traveled to cover during my first year as a writer for The Daily Emerald.

I vividly remember walking up to Bronny James (who’s now rostered by the Los Angeles Lakers) to find out if I could ask him a question after practice. “I don’t think I’m allowed to talk right now,” he responded. Every time James was available for media, press members swarmed him with microphones. Media, NBA scouts, agents and basketball royalty fill the bleachers at Team USA men’s practices year after year. 

It’s not the same story on the women’s side.

The same year that James denied my interview request in a crowded practice gym, I was shocked to realize that I could walk up to USC commit Juju Watkins for a one-on-one interview. Watkins wasn’t a household name then like she is now, but I knew that the former No. 1 recruit was the real deal.

I felt unqualified to be the lone media representative at the women’s practices at just 19 years old and as someone still fresh to sports journalism. I didn’t think I belonged at the men’s practices either, a space dominated by male media members.

My feelings have changed in my third year of covering the event. There are still very, very few media members at the women’s practices, which makes every opportunity to introduce new basketball talents to fans that much more important. 

Last weekend, I spoke to the top three recruits in the 2025 class: Jazzy Davidson (USC), Sienna Betts (UCLA) and Aaliyah Chavez (Oklahoma). It became clear to me why these three are at the top of their class. Their determination, basketball IQ and obvious talent set them apart from the majority of youth basketball players. 

March and April are when the high school basketball season ends, and events like the Hoop Summit and the McDonald’s All-American Game allow the chance for these athletes to play with and against each other before they take the step to the next level.

“It’s really good people constantly, and the coaches are always pushing you, and it’s just really, really difficult, and that’s why these experiences are so important,” Betts said. “It’s the best way to prepare because the speed, and it’s difficult and it’s really tiring.”

These events aren’t just important opportunities for female stars to showcase their talent to scouts and play against more challenging opponents, though, as it is on the men’s side. It’s another step in the journey of building women’s sports — and the youth side of the equation still has a lot of work to do. Take the Nike Hoop Summit, for example, which started back in 1995 for men and just in 2023 for women.

“I think we’re building [the] women’s program in general, women’s basketball, just because you don’t see a lot of girls coming out here and hooping — this is only the third, but they’ve been doing it for a while with the boys,” Chavez said. “This just shows that we’re building women’s basketball.”

I spoke to Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards in 2024, who recently excelled in the NCAA Women’s Final Four to reach the title game with South Carolina. She echoed a similar sentiment about the progression in women’s basketball in the middle of a viewership boom after a record-breaking NCAA Tournament last year.

“The talent was always there,” Edwards said. “People are just now seeing it.”

I consistently think about my conversations with Watkins, Edwards and others when I watch them thrive in college throughout the year. Other media members jump at the opportunity to speak with the top male prospects, but it typically takes a couple of years for their names to appear in front-page headlines. It only takes about six months for the young women who appear in the Nike Hoop Summit to become household names among women’s basketball fans.

What if there were a women’s Nike Hoop Summit when Breanna Stewart finished high school? What if it existed in the days of Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and even Sheryl Swoopes? So many of the game’s greatest never had the opportunities that players have now.

The evolution in coverage and opportunities for female athletes is still progressing in the direction of equity. My experiences at the Nike Hoop Summit have molded my purpose as a journalist. No media member is too young or too fresh to cover the stories that have yet to be amplified.

I hope that the Nike Hoop Summit is an event that I can return to Portland to cover for years to come. Being able to say I witnessed Cooper Flagg (the 2025 No. 1 NBA draft prospect) and AJ Dybantsa (the No. 1 recruit in the high school class of 2025) play in high school years down the line, when they have successful NBA careers, would be cool bragging rights. I think being able to say I covered the inaugural women’s game and was there to see the year-by-year growth in women’s basketball at the event would be even more meaningful.

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United States basketball royalty showed up in Portland on Saturday night to watch the next generation of basketball stars play at the Nike Hoop Summit.

Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Sylvia Fowles were among those sitting courtside for Team USA’s pair of wins in the women’s game and men’s games.

It was the third year that the event held a women’s game, and Team USA entered the matchup 2-0. A 17-10 final quarter for the USA women sealed an 88-78 victory over Team World in the first game of the doubleheader.

“I think we’re all just super competitive people in general, so we don’t want to lose no matter what we’re doing,” forward Jazzy Davidson said. “I feel like that really came out in the fourth quarter, and we just kind of rallied together, and everyone played their role really well.

UCLA commit Sienna Betts and Duke commit Emilee Skinner combined for 10 of Team USA’s 12 points early in the first quarter. Team World stayed close behind, with France’s Sarah Cisse becoming the first player to record double digits in the game with 8:45 left in the half.

The Americans built a double-digit advantage in the second quarter, but it didn’t take long for Team World to cut it back to one possession heading into the half.

Davidson (No. 3 recruit; USC) heated up toward the end of the first half. Davidson, from Clackamas High School in Oregon, received a loud ovation in pregame introductions and every time she found the bottom of the net.

“Having one last game here in my home state is really special to me,” Jazzy Davidson said after practice on Friday. “I definitely don’t take it for granted because I know some really elite players who have came through here haven’t had the same opportunity.”

Davidson sparked a late-game run in the fourth quarter. The U.S. only held a three-point advantage entering the final period, but a couple of steals and some Davidson layups changed that in the blink of an eye.

“She’s long, can get to the rim, can shoot the 3. Just a dynamic player, good defender,” head coach Dan Rolfes said. “She’s just so well-rounded, and she’s gonna make a heck of a college player.”

Davidson finished the game with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks. Betts added 14 points and five steals, while Aaliyah Chavez (No. 1 recruit; Oklahoma) scored 10 points — six of which came from beyond the arc.

The second game of the evening started just as evenly matched as the first. AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 recruit; BYU) drained a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter to tie the game at 22. Dybantsa accumulated 10 of his 24 points in his first six minutes on the court.

But Team World started the second quarter on an 8-0 run that forced the U.S. to take time. Shon Abaev (No. 24 recruit; Cincinnati) entered the game and immediately made an impact by converting on a four-point play to put Team World up by four.

Team USA came out of halftime trailing 53-44, but motivated to cut into the deficit. Cameron Boozer (No. 3 recruit; Duke) scored 10 of his 22 points in the third quarter. 

“We have a great group of guys and coach challenges to have time to be a tougher team, because in the first half, they were under way more than we did,” Boozer said. “I think we came on second half, and we were the tougher team, and that’s vital.“

Dybantsa, meanwhile, wowed the crowd with multiple monstrous dunks to add to the momentum and flip the game to a 13-point U.S. advantage.

Team World increased its defensive intensity in the fourth. A traveling call against Team USA had Team World head coach Marshall Cho pumped up on the sidelines, warranting a sideline warning.

Tounde Yessoufou (No. 15 recruit; Baylor) buried a 3-pointer to pull the World within one with 2:22 left. It was the start of a chaotic sequence of events that included Team World tying up the game following a foul on a 3-point attempt.

The two sides traded buckets, but Team World couldn’t capitalize on an opportunity to take the lead with nine seconds left. It intentionally fouled Boozer, who missed his second free-throw attempt. Yessoufou stormed down the court and flipped in a layup before the buzzer sounded to send it to overtime.

“I think this world team roster was the most disrespected team all week. There’s going to be six or seven NBA players from this roster, and it made it seem like we’re some scrimmage squad I put together,” Cho said. “These are some of the best players in the world, and they’ve overcome a lot to get here…That fourth quarter only happened because we had been connected all week.”

Team World couldn’t complete the comeback. Twelve USA-made free throws in overtime sealed the 124-114 victory.

“Reminding all of you that [Nikola] Jokic played here, [Joel] Embiid played here, right? Dirk [Nowitzki], Tony Parker, all these guys, and they need to tap into who they’re representing and understanding that they’re a part of something bigger than themselves,” Cho said. “These guys are gonna go out and make a lot of money in the future, but I want we wanted to give them something that was priceless that they would remember for the rest of their lives.”

The post Team USA goes 2-0 at the Nike Hoop Summit appeared first on Daily Emerald.

Oregon men’s tennis (10-10, 2-6 Big Ten) faced off against Wisconsin (9-8, 3-6 Big Ten) on a sunny spring day in Eugene in what became a nail-biting 4-3 victory.

The Ducks entered matchday on a streak of three-straight losses. The home side needed a victory in what was a difficult 1-6 start to conference play. The Badgers entered the match coming off a win against Purdue but were struggling on the road (2-4).

All three doubles matches were tightly contested. Members of the Oregon tennis squad sat on the bleachers on the right side to cheer on Lachlan Robertson and Cooper Errey, who held the advantage throughout the match.

After the Ducks were up 5-4 on all three courts, Lenn Luemkemann and Matthew Burton finished their match first in a 6-4 victory. With a 6-5 game advantage, Robertson’s forehand hit found the back left corner of the court to go up 15-0.

“It’s like [Robertson’s] flipped the switch the last month when he got the opportunity, when he started playing,” head coach Nils Schyllander said. “I think his mentality and mindset has changed in practice, where he’s playing a lot more free.”

The opposing Badgers duo then rattled off three-straight points to go up in the game, but once again, Robertson sliced the ball in play, this time to the back right corner. Oregon scored the final few rallies on Court 4 to win the doubles point and leave Vlad Breazu’s and Clement Lemire’s match unfinished.

“It makes the world of a difference,” Schyllander said. “We were down early, and we found a way there, too. We knew we had to win, get this conference win to stay in the hunt for postseason.”

Burton (6-3) and Breazu (6-2) each won the first set of their singles matches comfortably. The doubles point kept the Ducks in control of the day, despite being down on three of the six courts early in the singles matches.

The Badgers’ Sachiv Kumar tied the afternoon at 1-1 each after taking down Errey in straight sets (6-3, 6-0). Oregon found itself down in first sets 4-2 after Robertson fell 7-3 in a Set 1 tiebreak.

Burton hit a forehand down the left side to secure the match point against Tomas Zlatohlavek. He regained the Ducks’ lead with a straight-set victory (6-3, 6-3) but not for long. Lemire lost the second singles match of the afternoon for Oregon.

Trouble continued to mount for the Ducks when Breazu dropped his second set. Oregon needed to win two of the final three matches to secure the victory. Both Robertson and Luemkemann forced decisive third sets to keep the Ducks’ hopes alive entering the third hour of play.

Breazu held a 5-4 advantage in Set 3, but a long rally ended in a second straight game for Patrik Meszaros to put him one away from the match.  Breazu responded by forcing the tiebreak.

Robertson won his match moments before Meszaros’ 6-3 serve and sprinted to the gate outside Breazu’s court. The serve went past the back line as a double fault. Breazu collapsed to the ground and the team rushed the court in celebration of a narrow win.

“He’s got the heart of a lion. Cramping second set, and still found a way to grease that out,” Schyllander said. “It’s so good for our young guys to see that. To see one of the few upperclassmen we have actually laid on the line and and show that it’s never over.”

The Ducks stay home with their next match coming on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. against Nebraska (12-6, 5-3 Big Ten).

The post Oregon men’s tennis defeats Wisconsin in 4-3 thriller appeared first on Daily Emerald.

No. 5 University of Tennessee had the bases juiced in the fifth inning against Oregon softball at the Mary Nutter Classic on Feb. 20.

The Ducks held the Volunteers to a shutout and didn’t want to lose their opportunity to seize a massive victory. Transfer pitcher Lyndsey Grein dealt — called strike three. She escaped the top of the fifth without any damage.

Oregon has rostered some strong pitchers in recent years, but Grein provides something it has lacked: a pitcher who can get out of a jam.

The Ducks finished a stretch of three weeks on the road with a 5-0 outing at the Mary Nutter Classic. All five of those teams played in the NCAA Tournament last season and three ranked in the top-25. Grein was a key cog in Oregon’s success, earning multiple recognitions.

Grein became the first Duck to win National Fastball Coaches Association Pitcher of the Week since Brooke Yanez did so in 2021. She also captured her second Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor of the season.

“I’m very grateful and thankful to be recognized,” Grein said. “However, I still have a lot more work to do and I look forward to doing it.”

Grein pitched 18.0 shutout innings at the Mary Nutter Classic to help the program to a 15-1 start, its best since 2021.

Part of the early success Grein has achieved on the mound is due to the dedication she put into improving her drop ball in the fall and over the break.

“To see her get swinging misses and strikeouts with her drop ball, I think it really opens up her spread and doesn’t allow teams to just hunt one level,” head coach Melyssa Lombardi said.

Grein said that during her recruitment process she told Lombardi a list of things she wanted to improve on — including her drop ball — and they got to work. 

“I don’t think there’s anything else you could really ask for besides having a coach that’s willing to help you grow and also care for you at the same time,” Grein said.

The junior pitcher displayed few flaws in the first three weekends at Oregon. In the fifth inning of the Ducks’ first game of the Oregon Classic, she ran into trouble for one of the first times this season. The University of San Diego scored all five of its runs in the fifth.

Grein eventually settled into the game and retired the final seven batters.

The rest of the weekend was smooth sailing for the Oregon pitching after Elise Sokolsky also struggled against the Toreros in the first game. The pair combined for 18 strikeouts across two games and both reached 300 career strikeouts on the second day of the Oregon Classic.

Grein spoke about the camaraderie of the Ducks’ pitching staff ahead of the Oregon Classic and their ability to lean on each other regardless of if the game is going their way or not.

“Knowing that you can come into any situation or come out of any situation knowing that your teammate’s going to have your back is huge,” Grein said. “I’m super, super close with my bullpen mates.”

After Grein and Oregon defeated multiple top-25 teams in the first three weeks, the program saw lesser-known opponents at the Oregon Classic. The Ducks’ mentality of focusing on what it can do better every game is what’s led to its early success.

“We also talk a lot about having a faceless opponent,” Grein said. “Treat everybody the same and stay within ourselves.”

Oregon got off to its best start since the 2021 season, winning 15-straight and sitting at 20-1 after its home-opening weekend. If the Ducks continue to combine their timely hitting with Grein’s dominance on the mound, their steady rise in the rankings will only continue.

The post Oregon softball found its closer appeared first on Daily Emerald.

No. 5 University of Tennessee had the bases juiced in the fifth inning against Oregon softball at the Mary Nutter Classic on Feb. 20.

The Ducks held the Volunteers to a shutout and didn’t want to lose their opportunity to seize a massive victory. Transfer pitcher Lyndsey Grein dealt — called strike three. She escaped the top of the fifth without any damage.

Oregon has rostered some strong pitchers in recent years, but Grein provides something it has lacked: a pitcher who can get out of a jam.

The Ducks finished a stretch of three weeks on the road with a 5-0 outing at the Mary Nutter Classic. All five of those teams played in the NCAA Tournament last season and three ranked in the top-25. Grein was a key cog in Oregon’s success, earning multiple recognitions.

Grein became the first Duck to win National Fastball Coaches Association Pitcher of the Week since Brooke Yanez did so in 2021. She also captured her second Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor of the season.

“I’m very grateful and thankful to be recognized,” Grein said. “However, I still have a lot more work to do and I look forward to doing it.”

Grein pitched 18.0 shutout innings at the Mary Nutter Classic to help the program to a 15-1 start, its best since 2021.

Part of the early success Grein has achieved on the mound is due to the dedication she put into improving her drop ball in the fall and over the break.

“To see her get swinging misses and strikeouts with her drop ball, I think it really opens up her spread and doesn’t allow teams to just hunt one level,” head coach Melyssa Lombardi said.

Grein said that during her recruitment process she told Lombardi a list of things she wanted to improve on — including her drop ball — and they got to work. 

“I don’t think there’s anything else you could really ask for besides having a coach that’s willing to help you grow and also care for you at the same time,” Grein said.

The junior pitcher displayed few flaws in the first three weekends at Oregon. In the fifth inning of the Ducks’ first game of the Oregon Classic, she ran into trouble for one of the first times this season. The University of San Diego scored all five of its runs in the fifth.

Grein eventually settled into the game and retired the final seven batters.

The rest of the weekend was smooth sailing for the Oregon pitching after Elise Sokolsky also struggled against the Toreros in the first game. The pair combined for 18 strikeouts across two games and both reached 300 career strikeouts on the second day of the Oregon Classic.

Grein spoke about the camaraderie of the Ducks’ pitching staff ahead of the Oregon Classic and their ability to lean on each other regardless of if the game is going their way or not.

“Knowing that you can come into any situation or come out of any situation knowing that your teammate’s going to have your back is huge,” Grein said. “I’m super, super close with my bullpen mates.”

After Grein and Oregon defeated multiple top-25 teams in the first three weeks, the program saw lesser-known opponents at the Oregon Classic. The Ducks’ mentality of focusing on what it can do better every game is what’s led to its early success.

“We also talk a lot about having a faceless opponent,” Grein said. “Treat everybody the same and stay within ourselves.”

Oregon got off to its best start since the 2021 season, winning 15-straight and sitting at 20-1 after its home-opening weekend. If the Ducks continue to combine their timely hitting with Grein’s dominance on the mound, their steady rise in the rankings will only continue.

The post Oregon softball found its closer appeared first on Daily Emerald.