The heartbreak train just keeps rolling for the Oregon Ducks! Not even a week ago, journalist and podcast host Lincoln Arneal summed up the shocker on X: “Matt Ulmer is taking over the volleyball program at Kansas after eight years at Oregon. He led the Ducks to a 166-77 record and seven postseason appearances, including three regional finals. Ulmer also coached Long Beach State to a beach volleyball title in 2013.” This major move came just two weeks after KU’s longtime coach retired, leaving Oregon reeling as they say goodbye to one of their most successful head coaches ever.

Matt Ulmer, the mastermind behind Oregon volleyball’s steady rise since took the reins in 2017 and his track record with the Ducks is nothing short of stellar: seven NCAA Tournament appearances, five Sweet 16s, and three Elite Eights, all encompassed within a glistening .683 winning margin. In the past year only, Ulmer’s Ducks achieved a 24-8 win/loss ratio, reached the NCAA Sweet 16, and ended the year at the 10th position in AVCA rankings. However, his departure is now affecting the team, with players also bidding farewell to the program and now, Oregon Ducks’ rollercoaster of exits continues as another star player, an injured outside hitter, is looking to stage her big comeback but with a new team.

Lincoln Anreal of Huskers Illustrated spilled the tea on X, announcing, “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 just to make it crystal clear, Sophie herself hopped on Instagram Stories to drop a pic of the University of Pittsburgh, complete with its location tag. Talk about making moves and letting the world know.

When the Oregon Ducks squared off against Minnesota during the NCAA season, hearts sank as outside hitter Sophie Gregoire was helped off the court. The unfortunate moment came after she landed awkwardly on a teammate’s foot, which Lincoln Arneal later suggested had looked like a nasty ankle sprain. Sophie was on fire before the severe injury: 7 kills on 8 swings and two block assists. But it’s no surprise she’s built quite the reputation on the court, shining brightly during her high school days at Newberg HS.

Sophie’s stats speak for themselves–she was awarded the Pacific Conference Player of the Year title and was listed as the 2021 OSAA 6A All-State Second Team; 328 kills, 42 blocks, 35 service aces, and a match-high of 25 kills and 19 digs against Sherwood in 2022. She even got to the USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program, U18 team. Talk about being born for the big leagues! But sadly, heartbreaks have become a recurring theme for the Oregon Ducks, as after Matt Ulmer announced his departure, the Ducks lost another star player.

Oregon Ducks face another big blow!

Ex-Oregon All-American Mimi Colyer posted a shocker on social media on January 17 on her decision to join the Wisconsin Badgers. This 6-foot-3 outside hitter with only one year of remaining playing eligibility has a resume that is as loaded as it gets. Wisconsin may have just snagged the crown jewel of the transfer portal this offseason! Colyer, a second-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, was spectacular last season, contributing 3.97 kills per set, .241 hitting efficiency, 2.19 digs per set, and 39 aces.

Oh, and let’s not forget, she was a key part of Oregon’s 24-8 season and their Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament run. And if this doesn’t sting enough, Colyer is no stranger to facing the Badgers. She’s squared off against them at the UW Field House the past two seasons, only to watch Wisconsin win both matchups, including the 2023 NCAA regional final and an October 2023 showdown.

For Oregon, the hits keep coming. From roster shake-ups to losing their coaching cornerstone, it feels like a whirlwind of change for the Ducks. But as they gather themselves up, and start the process of looking for a new leader and players, one thing is certain—this is a program that knows how to rise, even through the toughest transitions. Ducks fans might just need an extra cup of coffee to weather this storm of changes.