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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 31, 2004 Netters to play U of O By Rich Rosenthal Tidings Correspondent Bolstered by fine opening weekend performances, the 10th-ranked Southern Oregon University volleyball team heads into the teeth of a challenging early season slate with four tilts this week. The excursion begins Wednesday night with a showdown against Oregon University System big sister University of Oregon at famed McArthur Court in Eugene. Upon conclusion of the school's first encounter with an NCAA Division I opponent since 1989, the Raiders continue their northbound Interstate 5 trek to Portland, where SOU faces NAIA foes Lewis-Clark State, seventh-ranked College of St. Mary, Neb. and Bellevue, Neb. in the Concordia Invitational over the weekend. Southern will have faced the NAIA's No. 1, No. 2 and No. 7-ranked teams as well as the Ducks leading up to its Sept. 8 Cascade Conference opener at archrival Oregon Tech. The defending conference champion and three-time NAIA Region I champion Raiders open a nine-match home schedule Sept. 17 against Albertson College of Idaho. Southern Oregon receives a first-hand glimpse of the big-time college atmosphere at Mac Court Wednesday night, but Raider hitter Kristin Ferris already knows what it's like to be a Duck volleyballer and a Division I student-athlete. The former North Medford High all-state product received major playing time as a defensive specialist at Oregon and compiled a 1.56 dig average spanning the 1999 and 2000 seasons. After spending two years away from the indoor game, the 5-foot-7 Business major had one of SOU's greatest all-around stat lines last season as a starting outside hitter: 332 kills and team-bests of 336 digs and 50 service aces. The Raider volleyballers hope to join their softball (Utah Valley State) and wrestling (Portland State) departmental colleagues in toppling an NCAA Division I foe during the 2004 calendar year. Southern and U of O are distant acquaintances, although the fellow state schools haven't met since 1979. The Ducks won 12 of 15 encounters dating back to 1970 and competed for the same regional title in the sport's AIAW days. Wednesday's clash is Oregon's 2004 debut, and fifth-year coach Carl Ferreira hopes to erase memories of last year's 3-24 campaign that included an 0-18 effort in Pac-10 action and a 19-match losing kid. This year's team features senior hitters Lauren Westendorf (219 kills, 158 digs) and libero Katie O'Neil (266 digs), along with junior hitter and 2003 MVP Kelly Russell (278 kills, 69 blocks). Women's soccer Southern Oregon University's most anticipated women's soccer season in the relatively brief five-year history of the program officially kicks off Saturday when the Raiders take on perennial powerhouse Willamette University in Salem. The Raiders, who posted an 11-7 mark a year ago and tied for the Cascade Conference south divisional title, return eight starters and five all-star players, including the 1-2 punch of 22-goal scorer Katie Emerson and defensive stalwart Stacy Ermini. Midfielders and ball distribution specialists Marissa Gillingham and Jeannelle Thompson are the team's lone seniors, but fifth-year coach Jose Chavez is excited about a lengthy list of talented newcomers. The most heralded additions are Nevada all-state standout Judi Dietz of North Tahoe High and goalkeeper Melanie Hopkins of Salt Lake City, Utah. Southern Oregon, which is coming off its first winning season, was picked to win the south division title and was second overall in the conference preseason coaches' poll. The Raider travel roster will be finalized Thursday. Including Willamette, which went 16-1-2 last year and has claimed nine Northwest Conference titles over the past 11 seasons, SOU's season slate features formidable foes in fourth-ranked and 2003 NAIA quarterfinalist Notre Dame de Namur (Sept. 14) and eighth-ranked and league favorite Concordia (Oct. 8). Cross Country Southern Oregon University's 2004 cross country season doesn't kick off until Sept. 18 at the University of Washington Invitational, but both Raider squads will be armed with NAIA top-25 rankings. The Raider men, who return national meet veterans Sean Peterson, Ryan Pfeil and Travis Floeck, are No. 4 in the NAIA's most talented region and No. 19 in the national preseason poll. Led by junior All-American Brynn Cogdill, the Raider women are No. 5 regionally and No. 19 in the NAIA preseason rating. Both NAIA poll perches are the program's loftiest in head coach Grier Gatlin's six-year Raider tenure. 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