Aug. 18, 2012

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CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Oregon State volleyball team kicked off its 2012 slate on Saturday with the team's annual Orange and Black Scrimmage at Gill Coliseum. Team White took the match in four sets, 25-18, 25-20, 23-25 and 25-23.

Team White may have been victorious over Team Black, but that's only on the scoreboard. The scrimmage showed that the Beavers, who began workouts a little more than two weeks ago, have gelled and are on their way with the start of the 2012 season less than a week away.

"There was good and bad," said head coach Taras Liskevych, who noted that the team greatly benefitted from such a close match. "Certainly, our blocking was pretty good on both sides and I feel there were some really good rallies. We scrambled after the ball and had relentless pursuit. In my seven previous years here, we had yet to put two teams together like this that were so closely contested like we did tonight."

Liskevych said that the team's newcomers, numbering six, did not look as if they are still getting acclimated to the Pac-12 Conference. They're confident and playing well early on.

"That's good," he said. "All the newcomers did a good job. That's what we really want because they're pushing the veterans and it's only going to make us better."

One such newcomer who played well included Albany's Sara Almen, who, behind a large cheering section at Gill Coliseum, led Team White with 16 kills. That was second in the match to senior Camille Saxton, who posted 18.

Joining Saxton on Team Black and posting double figure in kills was Katelyn Driscoll - another newcomer - with 11, while Arica Nassar, an All-Pac-12 Freshman Team member last season, had 10.

Ashley Eneliko joined Almen in leading the White squad with 14, including the match-ender in set four.

Oregon State fans noted the newest Beaver wearing No. 11. Joining the team just prior to the start of fall workouts was redshirt sophomore Alina Sopizhuk, who hails from Donetsk, Ukraine. She has practiced with the Ukranian National Team in the past.

The Beavers open their 2012 campaign next week when visiting Manhattan, Kan., as part of the Kansas State Tournament. Oregon State takes on Oakland on Aug. 24, followed by UC Irvine and Kansas State the next day.

Season and single-match tickets for the Beavers' 2012 campaign are now on sale.

Season tickets are $56 for adults and seniors/children (aged 62 or older or ages 3-18) are $40. Adult single-match tickets are $7, while children are $5. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for $2 per.

Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Gill Coliseum ticket office, over the phone by calling 1-800-GOBEAVS or online at beavertickets.com.

For more information on the Oregon State volleyball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/BeavsVolleyball or by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateVolleyball.

Support Oregon State University Athletics by making your tax deductible donation to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund. For more information follow this link or call 541-737-2370. Former Student-Athletes are invited to join the Varsity O Facebook Page for upcoming Alumni events.

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