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PREP ROUNDUP: North sweeps in season opener By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Aug 25, 2022 09:47 PM A A 5 View all photos ASHLAND — Once the North Medford volleyball team shook off some of the opening night nerves, the Black Tornado found its rhythm in a hurry. Getting stronger as Thursday night’s nonleague matchup against Ashland went on, North was able to close things out in straight sets to pick up a 25-22, 25-13, 25-10 win over the Grizzlies at Mountain Avenue Gymnasium. “A lot of nerves, a lot of unforced errors,” said North head coach Josh Elbert in terms of how his team started its season opener. “Once we settled down, we were able to take care of the match.” The first set saw North (1-0) lead throughout, but never totally get separation from Ashland (0-1). Once the second set arrived, though, that’s when the Black Tornado took control. “We settled down,” said Elbert without hesitation when asked about the key to getting the second-set advantage. North senior middle blocker AJ Brooks — who played her first competitive match for the Tornado since injuring her knee at the end of her sophomore season — finished with eight kills, while senior outside hitter Olivia Stubenrauch added six kills. Senior setter Maddie Blake finished with a match-high 15 assists, while senior libero Amy Kloek had team-high totals in digs (14) and aces (4). “I thought my middle AJ Brooks, she’s come back from a torn ACL, really was able to pick up where she left off before she got hurt,” said Elbert. “It was good to see her back in and moving well and making good choices hitting-wise.” Earlier in the day, Elbert said he was excited to see how his team would fare right out of the gate. “We’re looking forward to getting this season started,” said Elbert, whose team was 12-9 and finished second in the Southwest Conference a year ago. “We have some new, younger players and ones who are kind of stepping into new roles so it will be good to see where we’re at and what kind of team we’re going to be.” And where does he feel his team is at coming out of its season opener? “We still have work to do,” said Elbert. “We settled down and were able to control the tempo tonight. Defensively, I thought we played a little better and then had a lot less unforced errors in the last two sets.” Thursday also marked the coaching debut at Ashland for Tia Khachitphet, whose roster consists mostly of underclassmen but a handful of Grizzlies do return from a group that went 7-11 last season. Ashland junior libero Maile Cooper finished with 22 digs, while Lainie Carter had six digs and Alyssa Sturdevant had four blocks. “Nerves just kind of got to them toward the end,” said Khachitphet of her team. “We did well with missing half of the starting lineup — we pulled people up and just made it work. They worked really hard despite being down players.” Cross-country UMPQUA OPENER: At Roseburg, Crater sophomore Tayvon Kitchen rolled to a wins in the boys 5,000-meter run as the Comets claimed three of the top five spots to record an impressive season-opening performance at Stewart Park. Kitchen finished in 16 minutes, 27.20 seconds, well ahead of Roseburg runner-up Timothy Johnson (17:11.10). Crater teammates Ryder Hvall (17:19.90) and Ivar Hokanson (17:47.10) followed to help the Comets claim the team title with 62 points. Roseburg was second with 66, while Grants Pass was third at 79. North Medford had a pair of runners finish in the top 10, with Logan Huffman (17:59.60) placing sixth and Elijah Zavala (18:32.70) finishing 10th. The Crater girls also captured the team title with 52 points, followed by Grants Pass (57) and Roseburg (65). GP’s Nettle Grey won in 19:52.60, while fellow Caver Ellie Berg (20:14.00) was third and Crater’s Lindsay Siebert (20:17.00) finished fourth. North Medford’s Reese Meager rounded out the top five with a time of 20:25.80. Crater’s Shaun Garnica won the Umpqua Opener’s 3,000-meter coed run by nearly 40 seconds at 9:26.90. BOYS TEAM SCORES: Crater 62, Roseburg 66, Grants Pass 79, North Medford 89, Bandon 93, North Bend 144, Klamath Union 177, St. Mary’s 216, Douglas 244, Glide 257, South Umpqua 289. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 10): 1, Tayvon Kitchen, C, 16:27.20; 2, Timothy Johnson, R, 17:11.10; 3, Ryder Hvall, C, 17:19.90; 4, Damian Avalos, B, 17: 27.60; 5, Ivor Hokanson, C, 17:47.10; 6, Logan Huffman, NM, 17:59.60; 7, Peyton Fisher, R, 18:00.30; Matt Rieman, GP, 18:00.90; 9, Jaja Hannagan, GP, 18:03.50; 10, Elijah Zavala, NM, 18:32.70. GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Crater 42, Grants Pass 57, Roseburg 65, Klamath Union 95, St. Mary’s 123, North Bend 132, Glide 192. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 10): 1, Nettle Grey, GP, 19:52.60; 2, Sylvia Eckman, R, 20:04.90; 3, Ellie Berg, GP, 20:14.00; Lindsay Siebert, C, 20:17.00; 5, Reese Meager, NM, 20:25.80; 6, Emma West, C, 20:26.30; 7, Saniyah Ayala, SM, 20:28.00; 8, Isabela Coffman, KU, 20:29.40; 9, Eleanor Nichol, NM, 20:45,10; 10, Haylee Baldwin, C, 20:45.10. Photo By Denise Baratta. North Medford's Olivia Stubenrauch, (5), spikes the ball past a block attempt by Flannery Lundgren, (8), and Alyssa Sturdevant, (5), of Ashland. Photo by Denise Baratta. North Medford's Kristina Atonio, (12), tips the ball over to waiting Ashland defender Lainie Carter, (2). Photo by Denise Baratta. Ashland's Tessa Hobein goes up for a block Thursday in a home match-up against North Medford. Photo by Denise Baratta. North Medford's Kristina Atonio, (12), and Nana Silafau, (14), go up to block a hit by Sophia Jacques-Beitz, (12), of Ashland. Photo By Denise Baratta. North Medford's Nana Silafau (14), spikes the ball past a block attempt by Flannery Lundgren, (8), and Alyssa Sturdevant, (5), of Ashland.