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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 13, 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 October 20, 2004 North Medford�s Lauren Berger (6) spikes the ball over Roseburg during Tuesday�s match between the SOC�s top two volleyball teams. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Roseburg still wears the crown Indians prevail over North Medford to claim their second SOC volleyball title in a row By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune The Roseburg volleyball team had two things on the agenda Tuesday when it visited North Medford. Hand out a little payback for an earlier defeat and, more importantly, secure a second straight Southern Oregon Conference title. The seventh-ranked Indians killed both birds with one stone, downing the Black Tornado in a playoff-like atmosphere, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17. "This is terrific," said 11th-year Roseburg coach Bruce Myers, whose team avenged a five-game loss to the Tornado on Sept. 23. "Any time you win a match on the road, especially at a place like North, it’s great. "I have to really compliment (my) girls." Advertisement North Medford (10-3 SOC), which clinched a playoff berth despite the loss, remains in sole possession of second place with one match left — a home contest with rival South Medford. A win on Thursday against the Panthers secures the No. 2 seed for the Black Tornado, while a loss could forge a three-way tie for second with South and Ashland. "(Roseburg) definitely came in here and earned that league title," said North coach Ron Beick. "Now, obviously, the South match is pretty big for us." North Medford made the Indians work for their SOC repeat on Tuesday. The much smaller Tornado was able to run out to comfortable leads in the second and fourth games before Roseburg (12-1) marched back. Freshman outside hitter Whitney Hodnett served up a 6-0 lead for North in Game 2. But the Indians began to slowly chip away at the deficit, narrowing the gap to 12-10, then forging a 16-all tie. Junior outside Emily Waldron helped complete the comeback by slamming down four kills during a 9-3 closing stretch that gave Roseburg a two-games-to-none advantage. "We gave them opportunities to stay with us after getting that big lead," said Beick. "That run Roseburg made (from the early deficit) probably made the biggest difference in the match. "We’re not the tallest team, and it was key when they pulled their setter off the net. That negated a lot of what we wanted to do." The Tornado bounced back with a victory in Game 3 and once again found itself with an early lead, 7-1, in the fourth game. But Waldron and senior outside Brittany Belshe went to work and led the Indians on a run that evened the game at 11-all. Belshe put Roseburg ahead 13-12 with a powerful kill, then helped continue the Indians’ run with her hard-to-handle jump serve. A streak of five straight points put Roseburg up 20-14 and ended North’s hope of evening the match. "We came in expecting a five-game match," said Waldron, who finished with a match-high 19 kills. "We knew it would be tough because North’s a very good team. "I think maybe we lost our intensity a little in Game 3. But we got back to playing our game after that." North Medford hurt itself in the opening game by playing or making attempts on six balls that were out of bounds. "That was a six-point swing right there," said Beick. "Then we get that third game and it’s us that could’ve had the 2-1 lead. "I don’t think we were that nervous, I just think the adrenaline on both teams was so high." Senior outside Jessica Durham went high for nine kills to go with nine digs to lead North. Sophomore middle Lauren Berger added eight kills, and senior setter Allanah Munson dished up 26 assists. Kelsey Hamilton, a senior defensive specialist, went to the floor for 15 digs to match Munson for the team lead. Belshe led Roseburg with 14 kills and 10 digs, while Shannon Miller had 34 assists and 11 digs. Natalie Hooper added 15 digs and Corynn Jorgensen eight digs and two service aces. The Indians close out their regular season at home against Crater. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . 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