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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels August 18, 2004 Vacation's over: Grizzlies, Raiders go to work By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings It may feel like the height of summer, but the fall sports season looms just days away for area collegiate and prep athletes. Over the weekend, Southern Oregon University football and volleyball players reported for fall training camp and Ashland High athletes start daily doubles on Monday, though several teams have already begun workouts together. ashland high football players run through a series of obstacles during a conditioning drill at Ashland High School today. The Grizzlies, along with several other local fall sports teams, returned to action Monday to prepare for the season. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings Since mid-July, the Grizz football team has met on a voluntary basis to lift weights and work on speed and agility. According to Ashland coaches, the turnout has been strong even though the players don't have to attend. But the relaxed workout environment changes very quickly. The next couple of weeks should be nothing less than hectic and exhausting, as fall sports schedules kick into gear. The Raider volleyball and soccer teams open their preseason play next weekend and the high school regular season begins in three weeks. A new cast "We're just taking baby steps," Raider head volleyball coach Paul Elliott said. "It's going to be a great group, very receptive to coaching." The Raiders return eight players from their 2003 Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I championship team. However, Southern will miss three-time All-American power hitter Kristina Matchett, as well as Lindsey Atkinson and Sara Tatom, the three seniors from the 2003 team. The Raiders welcomed 10 rookies to the squad at the first all-team meeting on Saturday. Eight players are true freshmen; two have transferred from other collegiate programs. "We've recruited to replace those," Elliott said. "Now it's just a matter of developing the players to play at the level we're used to." Four days into practice, Elliott feels like the team has already won some improvements. "We're just handling the ball better, moving together better," he said. "Our freshman kids have all made strides." 'Blue-collar' Outside McNeal Pavilion, on the practice football field, Raider head football coach Jeff Olson has seen similar success across the four days of practice the football team has put in. "I'm very pleased so far," Olson said. "So far the work ethic has been very solid." For the first time in more than five years, Southern started off training camp without the go-to guy they got used to in Griff Yates and then Dusty McGrorty. "It's a blue-collar team," Olson said. "That's really how we're approaching this. This is a year where we're saying 'It's everybody.'" The Raiders started daily doubles Tuesday and will continue the two-a-days through Aug. 27 to work on fundamentals and, hopefully, define the starting lineup. "We certainly have to solidify starting roles, go two-deep," Olson said. "We have to keep distractions out. We certainly need to see leadership surface and be consistent." But already Olson can see strengths in his 2004 squad. The chemistry and discipline of the group have been evident, and the coaches have been impressed by the level of fitness the players have at this point in the training process. "Overall, this may be the fastest team we've ever had," Olson said. "I think we're going to be a very athletic team." 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