The 12th ranked Oregon Ducks invaded Crimson Court on Tuesday night and administered a whipping to the Utes, storming to a 3-1 victory: 22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17.

Oregon kept intact a perfect 7-0 record for the season while the Utes fell to 6-5, losing for the first time in 14 games on their home court.

In the first set, the Utes looked like they were going to hang with the Ducks holding on to a three point win.

"We came ready," said Coach Beth Launiere, "We had an intense practice the day before and responded well."

But the next three games the Utes were not a match for the Ducks. Launiere was not unhappy with Utah's play, rather acknowledging that Oregon was just the better team.

"We played well and competed," she said. "They are just a good team."

Karolina Bartkowiak was named player of the game but she responded, "It doesn't mean anything if we don't win." Sarah Hibbert and Bartkowiak both tallied 13 kills apiece in the match.

Bartkowiak noted, "It seemed we always had to come from behind."

Jennifer Lanting, a 6-6 sophomore came on strong registering nine kills, but it wasn't nearly enough. Chelsea Sandberg also accounted for nine kills.

Oregon seemed to have an answer for everything the Utes threw at them. "They were digging some balls on our best hits," said Launiere.

And many of the Duck kills squirted off blocks and were irretrievable. Sonja Newcombe let Oregon with 21 kills on this senior dominated team. However, freshman Katherine Fischer provided good all around play for the Ducks.

In the second game of the match, the Utes battled evenly for about half the game. Then a few errant passes brought about their downfall.

Launiere has 397 victories in this, her 20th season. She knows Oregon had exceptional talent and she commented: "Our program has to recruit, of course, but Utah has always had to play a little 'blue collar.'"

"Each year is a new challenge," she said, "We have to take a group of new players and mold them into a team."

"I can't even remember last year's team," she quipped, about the women who made the "Sweet 16" but lost three seniors.

She concluded, " I am happy as long as we are getting better."

e-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com