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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 5, 2004 Getting a second chance By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings Four years ago, Kristen Ferris left the University of Oregon volleyball team after two seasons. She wasn't sure she would ever take the court again. "I've always loved the game, so it's never been that I don't want to play," the Raider senior said. "But that was my thought when I left UO, that it's over." Southern Oregon University senior outside hitter Kristen Ferris has been a rock of consistency since leaving the University of Oregon for Southern Oregon in 2003. This season, she leads the Raiders in both kills and digs. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings The situation with the Ducks just didn't feel right and, with the support of her family, she dropped out of school and moved on. "I can't imagine my life if I had stayed there," Ferris said. After a year in Portland, Ferris found her way back to the Rogue Valley. The North Medford grad became a favorite recruiting target of Southern Oregon University volleyball coach Paul Elliott. "I bugged her," Elliot confessed. "I just let her know, if she wanted to be back in school and play volleyball, I could be of service." Ferris didn't take the bait the first time, or even the second. But three years after she opted for early retirement from her collegiate career, she stepped on to the court in McNeal Pavilion against league rival Oregon Tech. The Raiders were already 6-2 on the season when they toppled the Owls in three straight games on Sept. 19, 2003. The team went on to a 24-8 season record, won the Cascade Conference title, the NAIA Region I crown, tied for 13th at the NAIA national championships and finished ranked No. 19 in the country. Ferris played 117 of the 119 games the Raiders battled that year. The outside hitter led the team with 336 digs and 50 serving aces, in addition to tallying 332 kills. "It's been an amazing experience for me," Ferris said. "Last year was great; this year is better. It's tons of fun." Team mom Ferris, who turns 24 in November, leads a teenager-dominated Raider team this year. The lone senior on the SOU squad has been thrust into a leadership role, though she been a part of the program for two years. "It's been tough sometimes, because I feel like I have to be on my A-game all the time," Ferris said. "But I have a great supporting cast. I don't do anything different than the rest of the girls." Looking at the Raider stats six weeks into the season, it's evident Ferris does a lot for the team. She has recorded identical kill and dig numbers - 201 - through 19 matches this season. In the Cascade Conference, Ferris ranks fourth for individual kills per game (3.53) and eighth for digs (3.66). "Kristen is an all-around great volleyball player," Elliott said. "In this day and age of specialization, there's not that many. No one can ever fault her effort. She just works so so hard every day." She believes her biggest strength on the court is defense and controlling the ball, and she would rather have the dig than the kill. "Hitting is exciting. For me, there's almost nothing better than going up and ripping a ball," Ferris said. "But making big (defensive) plays is a lot more exciting. You basically keep them from getting their kills." A potential candidate for the conference MVP award, Ferris has her focus set on a repeat of last year's successes, not personal accolades. "I'd love to win conference," Ferris said. "That'd be fabulous. I'd love to win the regional tournament and make another trip down to nationals." Atop the league standings with a 8-1 mark and a No. 15 national ranking, a fourth Raider trip to nationals may just be in the works and Ferris wouldn't want it any other way. "Just being able to be here and be on this team at this high of a level is a great experience," she said, with a twinge of sadness that this season will be her last. "This time, I know for sure, for sure. It'll be a sad day, but it'll be a great cap to a long career." 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