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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 22, 2004 New team, same goals for Raiders at regionals By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings It's the same plot line with a different cast of characters as the Raider women's tennis team prepares for the two-day NAIA Region I tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, this weekend. The Southern Oregon University squad is, for the seventh year in a row, well in its way to a winning team record. Just like every year in memory, the Raiders head into the tournament with one important focus - upset Lewis and Clark College. After all, the Warriors have an eight-year-long death-grip on the Region I title that has prevented SOU from competing at nationals. "It's always the same school that's the tough school to beat," said junior Megan Loeding, who was the only SOU player to defeat a Lewis and Clark opponent. "Going into it, you know Lewis and Clark as the team to beat." The Raiders, who finished third at the four-team tournament in 2003, must make some magic happen if they want to upend No. 11 Lewis and Clark and qualify for the NAIA Championships for the first time in school history. "We really have to play at the top of our ability," said sixth-year head coach Gail Patton. "Throughout the season, everybody has played well most of the time, but not at the same time." Reliable help Though Patton admits her team is about as young as they come - five of eight SOU players making the trip north are true freshmen - she believes the squad has more depth than last year's group. Southern will look to freshman Annie Chaney and Loeding for leadership at the tournament. Chaney has compiled a 19-2 overall record playing No. 1 singles and doubles. Loeding, who boasts the most collegiate experience of anyone on the squad, has put together a 14-7 overall record at No. 2 singles and doubles. Freshman Danielle Farber will add to the mix with her 16-3 overall record at No. 3 singles. "We probably play better when we play more-advanced players," Chaney said of she, Loeding and Farber. "I'm really excited. I feel like I'll actually get to compete." The Raiders haven't faced the likes of LSCS or any other top-rated team this season. With fewer matches under their belts, the players worry they may not be as well-prepared as years past going into the tournament. "I think it puts a lot more pressure on the other girls," Chaney said, highlighting the inexperience the Raiders must deal with. Loeding agreed. "Over the year, it seems like our bottom always has to step-up," Loeding said. But the Raiders will take enough players to the tournament that, if needed, the team can rotate its line-up to prevent fatigue. Easing into it Traveling aside, the Raiders have a seemingly perfect set-up entering the Friday-Saturday tourney. SOU will open the event against the tournament host, University of Alberta. The Pandas (2-2) are seeded second, though SOU topped them 5-4 in 2003. In the afternoon, the Raiders face Lewis and Clark (11-7), in what looks to be the premier match-up at the tournament and the deciding factor in Southern's bid for nationals. "Winning the tournament would get us to nationals, but that's really a tall order," Patton said. "On the other hand, that's a goal worth pursuing." Then, on Saturday morning, the Raiders face No. 4-seed Albertson College (1-6) to close out the tournament. "Whatever happens, we're 10-1 right now, so we're going to have a winning season," Patton said. "No matter what happens, if we go and play well, I think the team and I would feel like we had a successful season." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams