Southern Oregon Defeats Northwest in Four
KIRKLAND, Wash. - #15 Southern Oregon came back from a one set deficit to defeat the Eagles, 3-1 (25-14, 16-25, 9-25, 18-25) tonight in conference play.
NU came out strong in the first set taking an early 14-9 lead. An Eagle error would make it 14-10, but NU would then outscore SOU 7-0 to take a 21-11 lead after to Eagle kills and three Raider miscues. SOU's Lauren Swetland's kill would make it 21-12, but NU would answer after a SOU error with Molly Boyle's service ace. The Raiders would close to 24-14, but an attack error would end the set.
In the second set, the two teams would find themselves in a close set and tied at 10-all, but the #15 Raiders would outscore Northwest 10-3 to take a 20-13 lead capped off by two kills each by Liz Madden, and Megan Bartling. SOU would win the set after a NU service error.
SOU's defense would hold NU to 9 points in the third set as they would lead early, 15-6, and go on to close out the set on three straight Northwest miscues.
The Eagles would battle back in the fourth set to tie it at 12-12, but two Raider kills and two service aces would give them the lead 16-12. NU would pull to within five, 22-17, But Natalie Scheller would close out the set and the match with her kill.
"We came out on fire, hitting .350 with 8 blocks in the first set," said Jessie Dietrich, "but we couldn't hold the intensity and Southern came back with vengeance, beating us soundly in the last three sets. This coming weekend's matches are a "must win" situation for us, do hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes tonight in order to pull out two wins next week."
The Eagles will close out their season on the road in Eugene, Ore., against Northwest Christian and Salem when they take on Corban.