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SOC VOLLEYBALL South tops gracious Eagles EAGLE POINT -- South Medford High volleyball coach Jerry Hagstrom was happy to register a Southern Oregon Conference volleyball victory over a scrappy Eagle Point team Tuesday. He was happier still at the Eagles' gracious conduct in the wake of a South Medford tragedy. Crystal Peterson had eight kills and Megan Barry added 20 assists to lead the Panthers (4-2 overall, 2-1 SOC) to a 15-8, 15-10 victory. But while the details of the win may soon wane, the memory of Eagle Point's kindly ways will not. In a gesture paying tribute to South Medford junior varsity player Emily Sullivan, who was killed in a car wreck last Friday, the Eagles handed each South Medford player a flower as they stepped off the bus. Then, moments before the match started, the Eagles moved to the South Medford side of the net and shared a prayer. Several Eagle Point fans also had Sullivan's volleyball number 8 painted on their arms. "It's probably the best sportsmanship I've ever seen," Hagstrom said. "The Eagle Point girls were very kind." In the match itself, South Medford pulled away in each game after Eagle Point hung close in the early going. "They're a young team but they're very scrappy and they're going to nail some team one of these nights," Hagstrom said of the Eagles. "They dug up a lot of balls we thought would hit the court." KLAMATH UNION 15-16, CRATER 1-14 -- At Central Point, Crater couldn't capitalize twice with a 14-10 lead in the second game, then Klamath Union reeled off six unanswered points to end the match. In the first game, the Comets had trouble containing the Pels overpowering frontline of Kristina Matchett and Kaylene Munson. Crater sophomore Addie Wiersma had four digs and passed well, while Crystal Galedrige's all-around performance helped the Comets stay close. ROSEBURG 15-7-15, GRANTS PASS 7-15-10 -- At Grants Pass, Roseburg trailed 4-1 in the decisive third game but came back behind the play of Megan Morely, who finished the match with eight kills and 14 digs. Setter Nicci Jannelli provided the Indians with 21 assists. Grants Pass received a strong blocking game from Colleen Davidson (10) and Christina Pierce (seven). Gabby Rathburn delivered eight kills for the Cavers and Reshaun Lewis had eight assists and only two errors setting. Johanna Nealy and Kaci Williams played strong defense for Grants Pass. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.