Spring Break
Volleyball short in 2008
Beavers begin season strong before coming up shy of NCAA Tournament berth late in year
Casey Grogan
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Sports
On Oct. 7, Oregon State entered the Top 25 poll for the first time in 12 years. Then-No. 24 OSU was defeated by then-No. 7 Oregon in Eugene. Oregon State maintained a spot in the Top 25 with wins over WSU and Arizona before Oct. 25.
On Oct. 25 the Sun Devils of Arizona State made their way to Corvallis, looking to ruin the Beavers season. Sweeping the Beavers inside of Legendary Gill Coliseum, the Sun Devils sparked the downfall of the OSU season as the Beavers went on to lose 10 straight matches, erasing all hope of an NCAA Tournament appearance.
"I don't think [the slide] was a matter of us not working hard," Evans said. "There were a bunch of factors. It wasn't just one person, it was everything coming together and not clicking like it did at the start of the season. You always have that in athletics."
OSU was without middle blocker Brecht Gijsbertsen, a transfer from Bunnik, Netherlands, who was expected to fortify the Oregon State front court. Gijsbertsen was not cleared by the NCAA and was forced to watch the 2008 Beavers from the bench.
Despite a rough end of the season, Oregon State had strong seasons from multiple individuals. Leading Oregon State was junior outside hitter Rachel Rourke. The Australian became the first OSU player to receive Pac-10 Player of the Week honors since 2002.
With a team-high 497 kills, Rourke was named to the 2008 All-Pac-10 Women's Volleyball Team, making her the first Oregon State athlete to be named to the team since Gina Schmidt in 2000.
"Rachel is a point scorer and an inspiration," Devich said. "When she is on, she is on."
Sophomore outside hitter Jill Sawatzky was second on the roster with 330 kills and was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team, along with fellow sophomore, setter Kaitlan Locke.
"We have a lot of good individuals," junior outside hitter Bree Knitter said. "[For next year] we have to work together as a team, and as individuals everyone has to work on the mental game. We have to continue to get better."
On Oct. 25 the Sun Devils of Arizona State made their way to Corvallis, looking to ruin the Beavers season. Sweeping the Beavers inside of Legendary Gill Coliseum, the Sun Devils sparked the downfall of the OSU season as the Beavers went on to lose 10 straight matches, erasing all hope of an NCAA Tournament appearance.
"I don't think [the slide] was a matter of us not working hard," Evans said. "There were a bunch of factors. It wasn't just one person, it was everything coming together and not clicking like it did at the start of the season. You always have that in athletics."
OSU was without middle blocker Brecht Gijsbertsen, a transfer from Bunnik, Netherlands, who was expected to fortify the Oregon State front court. Gijsbertsen was not cleared by the NCAA and was forced to watch the 2008 Beavers from the bench.
Despite a rough end of the season, Oregon State had strong seasons from multiple individuals. Leading Oregon State was junior outside hitter Rachel Rourke. The Australian became the first OSU player to receive Pac-10 Player of the Week honors since 2002.
With a team-high 497 kills, Rourke was named to the 2008 All-Pac-10 Women's Volleyball Team, making her the first Oregon State athlete to be named to the team since Gina Schmidt in 2000.
"Rachel is a point scorer and an inspiration," Devich said. "When she is on, she is on."
Sophomore outside hitter Jill Sawatzky was second on the roster with 330 kills and was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team, along with fellow sophomore, setter Kaitlan Locke.
"We have a lot of good individuals," junior outside hitter Bree Knitter said. "[For next year] we have to work together as a team, and as individuals everyone has to work on the mental game. We have to continue to get better."
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