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39 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, December 5, 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 December 4, 2004 SOU volleyball team falls at NAIA tourney SAN DIEGO — One of the greatest seasons in Southern Oregon University volleyball history ended Friday morning with a nail-biting loss to eighth-ranked Concordia (Calif.) University in pool play at the NAIA Championships. With both teams facing a must-win scenario to land a first-ever spot in the national quarterfinals, the 21st-ranked Raiders capped the year with a 28-8 record and finished ninth at the 20-team event for the third time in four trips as a result of the 30-27, 30-26, 24-30, 30-28 setback to the Lady Eagles (32-5). SOU, the four-time defending Region I champion, finished 2-2 in Pool B action, while Concordia, the third-place team from powerful Region II that produced three quarterfinalists, moved into the Elite Eight with a 3-1 mark. Seventh-ranked National American, S.D. won the pool by going 4-0. "It’s a disappointing loss, but I’m proud of the fact our program is getting closer and closer to breaking into the top eight," Raider coach Paul Elliott said. "This was a fantastic match, and it wouldn’t have taken much to swing the outcome in the other direction. We had a great chance." The Raiders amassed a season-high 111 digs in the defensive struggle, including 28 by junior libero Kristen Lilly and 25 by sophomore right-back Ashley Garboden. Advertisement Freshman Jaclyn Hamilton-Smith and junior all-star middle Nicholette Le Bel each tallied 14 kills for SOU, while senior Kristin Ferris had 10 kills, 17 digs and three blocks in her final collegiate match. The Raiders finished with a 12-6 edge in blocking, but CU regional MVP Raquel Ferreira, a sophomore hitter from Brazil, torched SOU with 31 kills in 68 swings for a .338 efficiency along with a team-best 26 digs. "We always see some amazing international athletes at the tournament, and Ferreira might be one of the best I’ve ever seen," Elliott said. "Even though we came up short, I’m proud of how hard and how well we played, and we finished the season playing our best volleyball. That’s all a coach could ever ask for." Ferris, the team’s lone senior, completed the best all-around season in school history with 463 kills, 488 digs and 50 aces. Southern posted the program’s winningest season since 1993, including upsets of two No. 2-ranked teams: Biola, Calif. in August and an undefeated Lee, Tenn. squad at the national tourney on Wednesday night. Complete NAIA tourney coverage is posted at www.naia.org Men’s Basketball SOUTHERN OREGON 92, LINFIELD 76 — At Salem, Shea Washington scored 36 points and pulled down 17 rebounds as Southern Oregon University opened the John Lewis Classic with a victory over Linfield College at the Cone Field House on the campus of Willamette University. Washington started both halves with huge dunks. He hit on 12 of 17 shots, and was 10 of 11 from the free throw line in leading SOU (1-3) to its first victory of the season. Peter Nelson added 13 points and seven assists. Thomas Ward added ten points. Blake Shelton’s 17 points led Linfield. Sam Krieger and Jon Hildebrandt both had 13. After SOU opened an early lead, Linfield came back to tie the game at halftime, 44-44. Washington scored on a fast break dunk set up by Nelson to open the half, and the Raiders never trailed after that. For the game, SOU out-rebounded Linfield 42-34. The Raiders shot .49 percent for the game, while the Wildcats, after shooting 57% in the first half, finished the game shooting 42.6%. Linfield plays Western Baptist in the second night of the John Lewis Classic today at 6 p.m., while SOU faces host, Willamette University at 8 p.m. 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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