Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo.
Raiders let No. 16 College of Idaho slip away
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – Taylor Alexander and Ashley Pagan took over Friday night's match for No. 16 College of Idaho, helping to deliver a 20-25, 25-22, 26-24, 27-25 upset of No. 10 Southern Oregon that went down as the Raiders' first loss at Lithia Motors Pavilion.
Alexander, a senior right-side hitter, tallied 18 kills and assisted four of C of I's 10 blocks. Pagan, a junior outside hitter, went for 15 kills and 12 digs. Combined, the duo hit .415 on 65 attacks and enabled the Yotes (13-6 overall, 8-3 Cascade Conference) to stop a three-match series losing streak against the Raiders, including a five-setter on Sept. 1 in Caldwell.
The Raiders (17-2, 10-2) dropped a match behind first-place Eastern Oregon in the loss column. They'll take on the No. 13 Mountaineers at 5 p.m. Saturday, attempting to complete a season sweep.
SOU fought off match point four times in the fifth set before back-to-back kills from Pagan and Alexander put it away.
Taylor Ristvedt and Elliott Cook totaled 17 kills apiece for the Raiders, who were stymied at attacking averages of .136 and .167 in the second and third sets after taking charge in the first. They wrapped up with a .234 clip to C of I's .267.
The Yotes led by as many as seven points in the second frame but trailed 24-22 in the third before Pagan took the last four points upon herself, dropping in two kills and two blocks consecutively for the win.
C of I middle Jackie van Vliet contributed 12 kills and a match-high seven blocks. Drew Dobney had 18 digs and Marija Djonovic added 34 assists in a two-setter lineup.
For the Raiders, Nila Lukens chipped in 10 kills, Emma Ryan had 18 digs and Makayla Hoyt had nine kills.