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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 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 November 19, 2004 Southern Oregon�s Kristin Ferris leads the Raiders with 356 kills (3.83 per game), 44 service aces and is second behind teammate Kristen Lilly with 355 digs. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Home cookin’ Senior Kristin Ferris has flourished since returning home to play for SOU By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune The road less traveled was a bit bumpy for Kristin Ferris. The former North Medford volleyball star spent two seasons away from home playing for the University of Oregon. She used what would have been her junior year with the Ducks to do some soul searching while living in Portland. "It was hard to move away from home," says Ferris, who is the fourth of five children in a close-knit family. "Honestly, it was probably the first time I’d been away from home for more than about a week." But just when Ferris veered off her original path, a new avenue of opportunity appeared and the 24-year-old has gobbled it up. Advertisement Ferris, an outside hitter, is now the lone senior on a Southern Oregon University volleyball team that has sped to a Cascade Conference crown, and possible NAIA Region I title. The 22nd-ranked Raiders, who have claimed three straight Region I championships, won their two opening matches in pool play on Thursday at McNeal Pavilion in Ashland to advance to the semifinal round of the regional tournament. SOU must win its semifinal match tonight then secure victory in the championship tilt Saturday evening to earn an automatic berth to the national tournament in San Diego. "It’s survive and advance time right now," says 14th-year SOU coach Paul Elliott. "We didn’t have our best stuff tonight and everyone had to work really hard. We just fought and outlasted people today." At 5-foot-7, Ferris, who celebrated her birthday Thursday by posting 36 kills over both matches, isn’t the prototypical power hitter. Yet she makes up for it with tremendous timing and explosive leaping ability. Entering the regional tournament, Ferris led the Raiders with 356 kills (3.83 per game), 44 service aces and is second behind teammate Kristen Lilly with 355 digs. She also ranks fifth in the conference in kills-per-game average and could become only the second SOU player to record over 300 kills and 300 digs in two straight seasons. "Kristin’s a complete volleyball player," marvels Elliott. "She serves, she digs and she’s a dynamic attacker. Sometimes players like that are hard to find." Ferris entered the fray at SOU in spring ball practice of 2003. "I had talked to Paul off and on," says Ferris, whose boyfriend, Ashland High volleyball coach Josh Rohlfing, also encouraged her to try out. "He said I should come out and play. "Everyone was great. I’d say this year is the most fun I’ve had since I started playing volleyball." As a junior, Ferris led SOU in digs per game with 3.10, and she ranked 11th in the conference with 50 aces. She slammed down a team-high 75 kills to go with 49 digs and 10 aces in four regional tournaments last season, and mustered up a season-high 21 kills and five aces against Concordia and 16 kills and 15 digs in the final match against Lewis-Clark State. Still, after over a year away from the game, her most nerve-wracking match as a Raider may have been the first. "I think at that point I was scared to death," says Ferris of the SOU victory over Bethany, Calif., at the outset of her junior campaign. "I was extremely nervous and excited. But I felt more comfortable as soon as I got out on the court." Other than that small case of the butterflies, Ferris has been at ease on the court. At North Medford, Ferris set school records in single-match digs (27 against Central Catholic), and she is the season-leader in the defensive category with 298. Ferris is also third on the all-time kills list with 293. All records were set prior to rally scoring, which was implemented two seasons ago. The 1999 graduate earned second-team all-state honors and was a key piece in helping North claim a third-place trophy at the Class 4A state tournament. Life in Eugene, however, was another matter. Ferris was recruited as a defensive specialist by Oregon coach Cathy Nelson. She performed admirably during her two-year stint, averaging 1.5 digs per game and setting career match bests of 16 digs and 11 kills against Oregon State. But Ferris was struggling with a severe case of homesickness and What-do-I-want-to-do-with-my-life? syndrome, which afflicts most college students at some point. "It was hard," she says. "But it was a good experience. "Division I was very challenging. I did the best I could but it just didn’t work out for me." Ferris left school and found work in Portland, but her new surroundings were only temporary. "I ran out of money," Ferris says. "I was just working, but I wasn’t making ends meat. (Moving home) was the best decision." Ferris’ time with the Raiders has been the collegiate experience she was looking for. "It’s completely different (from the University of Oregon)," says Ferris, who maintains 3.6 GPA and could graduate next year with a degree in business. "It’s like comparing apples and oranges. "I love my teammates, not that I didn’t at UO, it’s just a little different. Everyone’s been super supportive. It’s kinda hard to explain, but I’m happier here." And chugging along on the path that suits her best. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . 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. 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