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By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings August 29. 2015 2:00AM Raiders snare program's 1,000th win, continue hot start The Southern Oregon University volleyball team continued its hot start and made a little history, too, Friday in Merced, Calif., crushing California Merced in straight sets to earn the program's 1,000th victory. Tyana Andrews had 16 kills and Corynn Kopra had 10 kills, 13 digs and three aces as the 16th-ranked Raiders beat Cal Merced 25-13, 25-18, 25-15, to improve to 5-0 and reach quadruple digits all-time in the program's 46th season. The landmark victory puts the Raiders in exclusive company. SOU is only the 10th NAIA program to reach the 1,000-win milestone and the first west of Texas to accomplish that feat. Andrews had her kills on only 29 swings — a .517 attack percentage — as the Raiders hit .303 as a team to continue their best start since 1997 at the U.C. Merced Invitational. Emma Gasman added 10 kills and three blocks, Lauren McGowne 39 assists and eight digs and Ashlyn Flynn 13 digs for SOU, which continues its nonconference schedule today against Menlo and William Jessup. The Bobcats, who were playing their season opener, were led by Jade Fachin's nine kills. Already in prime position to pull off its fifth straight win to start the season, the Raiders scored 10 straight points in the third set to seize a 17-7 lead. Andrews, a senior outside hitter, had three kills to spark the putaway rally. Later, Andrews, Kopra and Laura Morse combined for five kills in the last eight points, including Kopra's match-clincher off a set from McGowne. The second set was the most competitive of the match as California Merced pulled to within five points at 22-17 on a Raider attack error. But SOU finished strong, getting back-to-back kills by Andrews and Kopra to take a commanding two-sets-to-none lead. http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20150829/SPORTS/150829815 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->