Oregon Tech setter Kayleigh Whelchel sets up Madisen Garlie for one of her four kills. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Raiders Sweep by Oregon Tech
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Southern Oregon continued its dominance over Oregon Tech as the Owls were swept by the Raiders in Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball action 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-21) tonight at Danny Miles Court. It is the sixth-straight sweep for the Raiders over Oregon Tech dating back to 2010, as the Owls have not defeated the Raiders in volleyball action since 2001.
With the loss Oregon Tech fell to 7-8 overall and 1-2 in CCC play, with Southern Oregon improving to 5-5 on the season and 2-1 in conference action.
In set 1 the Owls led 6-3 before the SOU tied it up on three occasions, the last at 9-9, before taking a 16-12 advantage. A Renee Baumann kill and Raider miscue pulled the home team to within two points, 16-14. SOU, however, holding on to a three point lead, strung together four-straight points to move out to a 23-16 lead. The Raiders would eventually take the opening set by a 25-17 score.
Tech, leading 4-2 in set 2, saw SOU come back to tie it at 4-4, as the teams would battle out to a 15-15 score. Four-straight points by the Raiders made it 19-15 before a pair of SOU errors, and a Marie Baumann spike for Tech, pulled the Owls to within a single point, 19-18. Southern never let it get closer, as the visitors notched the next five points and moved on for a 25-19 victory.
In what would be the final set, the Owls scored the first three points, only to see the Raiders score 7 of the next 8 to move up 7-4. Tech managed to tie the set at 8-8, using four SOU attack errors in the stretch, before Southern mounted a 5-0 run to take the lead for good. Oregon Tech got as close as two points, on four occasions, but SOU never let it get closer, as the visitors swept Oregon Tech 25-21 in set 3 for the win.
Kelsey Sampson, Marlee Smith and Renee Baumann led the Oregon Tech attack with six kills each followed by four from Madisen Garlie. Kayleigh Whelchel added 16 assists and Marie Baumann seven digs to lead the Owls on defense.
For SOU Mona Goudarzian finished with a match-high nine kills with Tyana Andrews and Liz Madden contributing eight kills apiece. Lauren McGowne recorded 28 assists and Renee Yomtob 13 digs to anchor the Raider defense.