Another week, another chapter of change for Oregon Ducks! On January 17, the Oregon Ducks bid farewell to their esteemed coach, Matt Ulmer, whose coaching resume reads like a guide to volleyball success. Known for crafting champions, postseason victories, and elite-level recruiting, Ulmer was officially named the seventh head coach in Kansas volleyball history, as revealed by Director of Athletics Travis Goff. With a six-year deal in hand, extending through the 2030 season, Goff couldn’t contain his excitement, sharing, “In bringing Coach Ulmer to KU, we have paired one of the premier coaches in the game with one of the premier programs in the country.”

The journey of Ulmer includes the eight seasons with the Ducks and the record-making season in 2013 when he became the youngest coach to win the national championship and lead Long Beach State to the beach volleyball championship. And it appears that the domino effect of Ulmer’s big switch is already causing ripples in the volleyball world. Following his Kansas leap, one of Oregon’s standout stars has decided to follow her coach’s trailblazing footsteps.

Lincoln Arneal of Huskers Illustrated hopped onto X on January 25 to break the news, saying, “Former Oregon setter Cristin Cline will follow her coach to Kansas. As a redshirt freshman, she averaged 10.26 assists per set for the Ducks.” It seems like Cristin Cline, who made waves at Oregon with her impressive playmaking skills, is now gearing up for a new chapter. Following her coach to Kansas feels like a move straight out of a sports drama—new colors and new goals.

Only last October, Cristin Cline was making headlines and piling up honors as she became the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after her performances against Wisconsin and Iowa. This redshirt freshman setter was on fire that, posting a fantastic average of 11.00 assists per set. Cline shone brightly against Wisconsin with 43 assists, nine digs, two aces, and one block in a four-set thriller.

It was also her third time in the season with multiple aces, while averaging 10.47 assists per set she ranked 24th in the NCAA, and the ducks showed off their hits with a .266 hitting percentage ranking them in the top 30. Shining together, Cline was the third Duck of the season to receive Big Ten weekly honors, joining Onye Ofoegbu and Mimi Colyer’s club. As the old saying goes, all great symphonies must change their tune and Oregon Ducks volleyball appears to be in a transition phase of change. With Cristin Cline leading the migration to Kansas, she’s not the only one flying the coop.

Matt Ulmer’s departure seems to have set off a domino effect

The same day the Oregon Ducks bid farewell to their head coach, another bombshell dropped—Mimi Colyer, their shining star and two-time All-American, announced her move to the Wisconsin Badgers. The powerhouse outside hitter, known for her unmatched finesse, had an impressive run last season, bagging a unanimous spot on the All-Big Ten First Team while averaging a stellar 3.97 kills per set and hitting .241.

Colyer’s legacy as a Duck runs deep; she made history in 2022 as the first-ever Oregon player to win National Freshman of the Year honors, boasting a jaw-dropping 4.20 kills per set at a .265 clip. But hold up—it doesn’t end there! Just days ago, Lincoln Arneal spiced things up on X, revealing, “Sophie Gregoire is transferring from Oregon to Pitt. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter played in 29 sets last year for the Ducks and recorded 51 kills. She has three seasons of eligibility remaining.” And Sophie wasted no time confirming the buzz, hopping on Instagram Stories with a snapshot of the University of Pittsburgh.

This rising star’s résumé sparkles with accolades, from being named the 2021 OSAA 6A All-State Second Team to earning Pacific Conference Player of the Year honors after smashing 328 kills, 42 blocks, and 35 service aces as a junior. So with star players and the coach leaving Oregon Ducks is definitely feeling the blow!