Document text
35 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 2, 2004 Raiders Stun No. 2 Lee at NAIA Volleyball Tourney SAN DIEGO — Southern Oregon University snapped the country's longest collegiate volleyball win streak by stunning second-ranked Lee University in straight games at the NAIA Championships in San Diego Wednesday night. The 21st-ranked Raiders (27-7) improved to 1-1 on the opening day of the 20-team tournament and sprang the event's biggest upset by dousing the previously undefeated Flames (44-1) 30-27, 30-27, 30-22. Senior outside hitter Kristin Ferris led SOU with a match-high 13 kills in 35 attempts, while junior libero Kristen Lilly paced an inspired Raider defensive effort with 18 digs. Junior setter Jamie McCreary assisted 39 of the team's 45 kills. Lee, which received four first-place votes in the final regular-season top-25 poll, was limited to a paltry .133 offensive efficiency despite a 10-kill, four-ace effort from Bosnian-born all-star hitter Bojana Vulin. Advertisement "This is a great, great win," Raider coach Paul Elliott said. "After watching Lee (earlier in the season), I had a feeling that if we played our typical brand of solid defensive volleyball along with some good blocking that we'd give (the Flames) some problems. The key was getting Lee out-of-system offensively, and we did it." The win was Southern's second triumph over a second-ranked team this season. The Raiders opened the 2004 campaign by sweeping then-No. 2 Biola, Calif. on Aug. 27 in Fresno. What almost certainly ranks as the most significant victory in program history came on the heels of SOU's worst loss since 2001: a 30-20, 30-17, 30-21 setback to seventh-ranked National American, S.D. in the morning session. Junior all-star Nicholette Le Bel led Southern with seven kills, and Lilly had 12 digs, but SOU was limited to a .127 attack percentage compared to .391 for NAU and its seven-player, all-Brazilian rotation. Southern continues pool play today with a 3:45 p.m. match against Indiana Southeast, which lost to Concordia and Lee today. The Raiders, which must win at least one more match to have a chance to move into the quarterfinals, caps pool action Friday morning against eighth-ranked Concordia, Calif. "We played well today, but we know there's still a lot of work to do," Elliott said. "Going 2-2 (in pool play) probably won't be good enough (to move on) in a very tough pool." For scores and tournament stats, visit http://www.naia.org . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities