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Foster, LeBel fuel Crater win over South Medford CENTRAL POINT � Crater received unexpected production from first-year varsity players Leann Foster and Nicholette LeBel during a Southern Oregon Conference volleyball win Tuesday. The Comets, who had lost five straight games to South Medford in a jamboree and tournament, reversed the trend with a 15-5, 9-15 and 15-11 victory over the Panthers. "Our girls knew they had lost to them five straight times and felt they owed them one," Crater coach Leaf Jensen said. "In the first game, we came out fired up." Foster, a junior outside put into the starting lineup for the first time, responded with six kills and nine digs, while LaBel was a force in the middle with four kills and four blocks. "It was good to see them step up when we were struggling from some other positions where we usually get the job done," said Jensen. After South won the second game to even the match, the Panthers kept their momentum going by grabbing a 5-1 lead in the third game. But Crater answered with an 11-1 run of its own to take command. Janell Sapienza, who served eight points in the match, served points 4 and 5 to knot the score at 5-5. "Her (Sapienza) serving was pretty key," said Jensen. "There was a lot of action on her serve." The Comets were handicapped by 12 hitting errors. "Our offense struggled," said Jensen. "We�re a big, tall, strong team, but our passing was far and away the best we�ve had all year." South Medford received a good performance at the net from Carla Zenz and Crystal Glover, who combined for 15 kills, and strong defense from Amber Hunt and Gina Alvis. "Their passing was really very good tonight," said South Medford coach Jerry Hagstrom. "We has some passing breakdowns, but pulled it together. It was pretty much a battle once we got our game going in the second game. We just got started too late." NORTH MEDFORD 15-15, GRANTS PASS 5-8 � North Medford defensive specialist Tara Siebenlist served nine points in the first game. With North up 3-1 in the opener, Siebenlist served six straight points. After five rotations Grants Pass cut the deficit to 9-5. Siebenlist again sparked the Black Tornado with three points from the service line and Kaci Maldonado served out the game on the next rotation. The second game remained close due to North missing six serves. The game went back and forth until North�s second set of rotations when good passing got the offense in gear. Stacey Casebier served the final four points to end the match. Senior outside Kara Hwang paced North Medford at the net with six kills, while Candace Fleener and Chaley Higgins added four each. Siebenlist had a team-high seven digs. ASHLAND 15-15, EAGLE POINT 7-4 � At Ashland, senior outside hitter Leslea Brown registered six kills, six digs and three aces to power Ashland past Eagle Point. The visiting Eagles hung tough early, but Ashland got into an offensive groove and rolled to its second victory in five SOC matches. Senior right side Heidi Lawrence added five kills and sophomore defensive specialist Lichen Murray added nine digs for the Grizzlies. ROSEBURG 20-15, KLAMATH UNION 18-4 � At Klamath Falls, Klamath Union extended SOC co-leader Roseburg well into the night before falling in the first game. The Pelicans led 13-10 before being outscored 10-5 Kaylene Munson led Klamath with 14 kills, five blocks and eight digs. Megan Leppert added seven killls and two blocks, while Lorisa Bliss chipped in with six kills and seven digs. Bonnie Vierira scooped up eight digs. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA