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--> --> Raiders fall in opener at NAIA net tournament Ashland Daily Tidings WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Southern Oregon University volleyball team got an up-close look at why Fresno Pacific is considered one of the top programs in the country. The fifth-ranked Sunbirds (31-3) knocked off the Raiders 30-14, 30-28, 30-16 in the opening match of pool play at the NAIA championships Wednesday afternoon. The Raiders (21-9), the 12th-seed in the 20-team tourney, faces No. 20 Loyola, La., and No. 4 Saint Mary, Neb. today. "Fresno is a very good team, but we dug ourselves in quite a hole," Raider head coach Paul Elliott said. "It took us a while to work out some of the cobwebs, but we couldn't afford to come out flat against a really good program like Fresno Pacific." After getting blown out in Game 1, the Raiders forged a battle in the second game. The teams traded blows and the game was tied at 27-27 and 28-28 before the Sunbirds pulled away. Game 3 was all Fresno Pacific. "I was impressed with the way we battled back in Game 2," Elliott said. "We played pretty good but things just didn't go our way." Sophomore outside hitter Kristina Matchett led the way for the Raiders with 12 kills. Senior setter Sabrina Garboden topped SOU with 29 assists and 13 digs. Fresno Pacific was led by sophomore Lin Gao (16 kills) and freshmen Hu Xiao Feng (11) and Mesha Wimer (11). To advance to the eight-team tournament finals, the Raiders need to win today's two matches and then beat No. 13 Grace, Ind., on Friday. "We need to put this one behind us and get on a roll," Elliott said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing