No. 2 Oregon volleyball sweeps Hawaii to advance to Sweet 16 in NCAA Tournament

No. 2 Oregon volleyball (28-5) swept Hawaii (24-9) for the second time this season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Matthew Knight Arena on Friday.

The Ducks dominated the unranked Rainbow Wahine in three sets, 25-23, 25-12, 25-17, and will advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year where they will face No. 3 Purdue (23-8).

“I think we got everything we expected from Hawaii, especially in that first set,” Oregon coach Matt Ulmer said. “I thought they (Hawaii) were fantastic. Their energy level was through the roof. Their defense intensity, their serving, I thought they were giving us fits.

“Just really proud of us for responding the way we did and to be able to come back. … I’m so proud of this group, so proud of the seniors and so excited for them to finish their home career here on such a high note.”

Oregon senior opposite hitter Morgan Lewis led with a game-high 14 kills, a .667 kill percentage and 15.5 total points. Hannah Pukis led with 29 assists and Mimi Colyer and Georgia Murphy each had 13 digs.

Hawaii brought its A game, jumping to a 10-4 lead to start the match. The Rainbow Wahine extended their lead to 20-15 on a kill by Riley Wagoner.

Unfazed by the deficit, Oregon answered with a four-point scoring run that included back-to-back kills by Gabby Gonzales to cut the deficit down to one. The Ducks tied it 22-all on an error by Hawaii and again 23-all on a kill by Lewis before they secured the set 25-23 on a Hawaii attack error and a kill by Karson Bacon.

“I don’t think we’re giving up,” Lewis said. “We just keep fighting no matter how much we are down by. We know we are still in it. Even in the first set too, it shows how hard we can fight. I’m proud of us for being able to come back in both of the matches (Oregon swept Southeastern Louisiana) and really fight and put on a show.”

Oregon flipped the script in the second set. The Ducks ignited on a five-point scoring run to take a 9-3 lead and again on a seven-point scoring run that included a pair of kills by Kara McGhee to lead 16-7.

A kill by Colyer and attack error by Hawaii gave Oregon the 25-12 set win.

Oregon wasted no time in the third set, leaping to a 10-6 lead on a kill by Gonzales. The Ducks extended their lead to 20-15 thanks to a service ace by Pukis and later reached set point on a kill by Lewis.

Hawaii responded with a kill of its own, but Oregon would win the set 25-17 on another kill by Lewis.

“As seniors in a really old group I think it’s really hitting us how much this matters every single point,” Murphy said. “I think so many people are stepping up defensively, and I think we are hitting a stride at a really good time.”

Sophomore outside hitter Caylen Alexander led Hawaii with 13 kills, 14.5 points and 46 total attacks. She also accounted for 14 total errors.

Edith Noriega is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at ENoriega@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Noriega_Edith.