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HAZE Temp: 48 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend October 11, 2002 North Medford�s Jessica Walters, right, goes for a dig as teammate Jenna Siebenlist looks on. Walters finished with 14 kills. North’s streak continues South Medford hasn’t beaten the Black Tornado in the regular season since the schools began playing in 1986 By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune There’s something about North Medford. Be it mental, physical, metaphysical or — most likely — a combination of all of those, the South Medford volleyball program cannot get a Southern Oregon Conference victory over its cross-town rival. The Black Tornado’s 25-14, 16-25, 26-24, 25-18 win inside the North Medford High gym Thursday extended the Panthers’ drought to 17 years, which is how long the rivalry has existed. Medford High split in 1986. "(The history) is tough to fight through," said South head coach Jerry Hagstrom, who will retire after this season, his fifth guiding the Panthers. "We did beat them soundly in bracket play at (the Rogue Valley Classic on Sept. 21). So that should have given us the confidence that we can come out and take them in our league." South flirted with history, but a seesaw Game 3 that turned out in the Tornado’s favor, 26-24, swayed the match permanently toward North. "You’ve got, really, two evenly matched teams," Tornado head coach Ron Beick said. "We played tight over there. When you split the first two, then obviously the third game has everything to do with the outcome, usually." The fall’s first North-South meeting was eerily similar to this one. On Sept. 17, the Tornado prevailed in four games, also on the strength of a Game 3 that went to extra points. The score then was 25-22, 16-25, 28-26, 25-16. There was more at stake Thursday than city bragging rights, as the match had postseason implications in a crowded SOC playoffs picture. The victory, coupled with Eagle Point’s loss at Roseburg, gives North (6-4 SOC) a one-match lead over the Eagles for the fourth and final conference postseason berth with four matches to play. The Tornado is also one match behind Roseburg and Crater, which are tied for second. "When we lost to Crater (Tuesday), that made all the rest of our matches critical," said Beick, who is in his ninth year at North. The Panthers (3-7 SOC), meanwhile, had to get a win Thursday to resurrect fading playoff hopes. "We’re a good team," Hagstrom said. "We play everybody tough. We’re just not able to step up at the crucial moments." Following a lackluster Game 1 in which its only lead was 1-0 and the only tie was 1-1, South clawed back by burying a 6-all tie to win Game 2 in rather resounding fashion. Middles Jennifer Brennan, a 6-foot senior, and Jennifer Mendenhall, a 6-foot sophomore, wreaked havoc throughout the equalizer, and they continued to prove tough on the Tornado until the match’s end. Game 3 was a memorable tussle, featuring 13 ties and five lead changes. North held an early, 9-4 edge before the Panthers came back to tie it at 13-all. Neither side led by more than two points — and by that much only once, when South was up 22-20 — the rest of the way. The Tornado pulled ahead, 24-23, on freshman outside hitter Jessica Walters’ kill, only to have Mendenhall answer. Knotted at 24, Mendenhall’s kill skipped just long, amid some controversy as to whether the ball grazed a North hand or two on its way out. Tornado senior Kami Hwang, a reserve middle, ended the marathon game with a first-time kill at the net. "Kami made a great play," Beick said. "She was also big in that third game at South with her serving." The Panthers’ spirits noticeably sagged entering the fourth game, but South did rally from a 13-7 deficit to even it at 17-all on junior setter Stephanie Anderberg’s service ace. North, however, regrouped and closed out the match with four kills from Walters powering an 8-1 run. "I was excited and hyped," said Walters, whose slam that gave the Tornado a 24-18 cushion was especially emphatic. "It was the perfect set (from sophomore Allanah Munson), and their block wasn’t there. It was the perfect opportunity." Speaking of perfect, North senior captain Stacey Casebier secured a four-year varsity record that’s just that against South with the victory. "Oh, that feels great," said Casebier, a 5-8 outside hitter. "Every game is a fight against South. ... And we don’t want to let (the streak) go." The Panthers were paced by Brennan’s eight kills and eight blocks, Mendenhall’s six kills and eight blocks and Anderberg’s 18 assists. Senior defensive specialist Kristina Easton won nine points on her serve and had four aces. The Tornado received 15 kills, 11 digs and five service aces from Casebier, 14 kills and four blocks from Walters, six kills and three blocks from junior middle Stephanie Jensen and 39 assists from Munson. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S