The Barometer Online

Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Curtis Barnard Junior middle blocker Lexie Rathgeber moved to No. 9 all-time on the OSU block assits list after two block assits Saturday. Rathgeber now has 225 on her career.

When USC comes to town as a ranked team, something in the Corvallis air changes, as not only did the the Beaver football team knock off then-No. 1 USC, the volleyball team set down the No. 4 Women of Troy on Friday night.

The weekend wasn't completely victorious for OSU (12-5, 1-3 Pac-10) however, as No. 5 UCLA (11-3, 1-2) was able to sneak by the Beavers in five Saturday night.

"We had a really good pre-season and I think we were able to get the kinks out early," junior outside hitter Bree Knitter said.

Friday night the Women of Troy (8-4, 1-2) were able to shake off three opening points by OSU and were able to capitalize on four straight points, to finish the 25-19 win.

The Beavers struck back in sets two and three, winning 25-23 and 25-21. They were unable to hold the momentum as USC took off in the fourth set with five straight points and a 25-16 win.

In the set five USC scored a quick opening point before the set became a back-and-forth affair. Knitter knocked a ball down at the midpoint to give the Beavers the 8-5 lead.

"It is a momentum game and I was afraid that after the fourth set we had lost it heading into set five," head coach Taras Liskevych said. "We came out strong and we found a way. Everybody really stepped it up. Good blocking tonight by everyone."

Junior outside hitter Rachel Rourke scored two late points before USC scored their final point of the set. Rourke finished things off for OSU knocking down the match securing kill

"This is a program builder," Liskevych said. "This is a big step in breaking into that echelon of knowing we can play against anybody."

Rourke led all hitters with her 24 kills. Junior setter Camilla Ah-Hoy delivered 45 assists and led the team with 15 digs. Middle blocker Lexie Rathgeber, a junior from White Rock, British Columbia, tallied one block solo to go with seven block assists.

UCLA knocked off the Beavers by four in set one on Saturday. Rourke started things off strong for OSU in set two, scoring four of the first six points. The Beavers ran out to an 11-3 lead before surrendering runs to the Bruins which narrowed the lead, giving the Beavers a 25-21 win in set two.

Oregon State took the lead set three, in a 25-22 win. Set four OSU came out flat, as the Bruins won the set 25-15.

In the deciding fifth set OSU got the set within a point at 8-9. The Beavers were unable to find the floor as hitters found the arms of UCLA blockers, allowing the Bruins to squeak out the 15-11 set and match win.

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