Oregon Tech's Mindy Rencher (9) drives one past an SOU block to pick up one of her six kills tonight. (photo by Kelly Caleb).
Southern Oregon Powers Past Oregon Tech
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A slow start in each set stalled Oregon Tech tonight at Danny Miles Court, as the No. 17 ranked Raiders defeated the Owls 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-16). Both the Owls and Raiders kicked off the 1st annual 'Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness' event in this evenings match-up.
Oregon Tech falls to 11-15 overall and 3-11 in conference play. Southern improved to 16-3 on the season and remain tied with No. 13 College of Idaho with a 13-1 mark in the CCC.
The Owls bounced back after SOU got off to a 5-0 start to set 1 with a five point run of their own to tie it up. The score would remain tied at the midway point, 13-13, before the Raiders rallied to push their lead to 17-13. Tech would move to within two points, 20-18, but Southern would put away five of the next six points to take the opening set 25-19.
In set 2, SOU cruised to a 13-6 lead. Tech would eventually find their rhythm and pull to within just three points at 20-17. SOU would then answer with three straight and move on to a 25-18 win.
Set 3 began like the opener, finding the Raiders on top 5-0 early. The Owls, however, never did mount a comeback, as Southern pulled away for a 25-16 victory to take the match.
Oregon Tech’s Kristen Walters and Mindy Rencher tied for team-high honors with six kills each, while Mikayla Morgan and Sarah Svedin tallied five each in the loss. Svedin and Kayleigh Whelchel combined for 22 of the Owls’ 26 assists tonight. Marie Baumann totaled 16 digs, many in spectacular fashion, while Hannah Brewster came up with 13 of her own. Megan Christensen added three block assists and the Owls only solo block, with Morgan also adding three block assists.
Sarah Holgen led the Raider attack with 14 kills, followed by Megan Bartling with 10. Leanne Stennett and Leah Bergstrom came away with seven kills apiece. Setter Lindsey Stone had a match-high 35 assists, while libero Becky Johnstone tallied 22 digs and Holgen with 15 to finish with the nights only double-double effort.
The Owls travel to Corban University and Northwest Christian University next week before finishing up the 2010 season at home versus Northwest University and The Evergreen State College on November 5th and 6th.