SOU-SIMPSON BOXSCORE

The 12th-ranked Southern Oregon University volleyball team opened up the 2008 season with a 25-7, 25-18, 25-17 victory over Simpson University today in the second match of the Raider Classic.

Top-ranked Fresno Pacific knocked off Oregon Tech 25-14, 25-15, 25-14 in the first match. Oregon Tech plays Simpson at 5 p.m. and SOU hosts Fresno Pacific at 7:30 p.m.

Senior Mia Wortel (Estacada, Ore./Estacada) and freshman Sarah Holgen (Honolulu, Hawaii/Ashland) both had 11 kills to the lead the Raiders over the Redhawks, while junior setter Lindsey Stone (Ashland, Ore./Ashland) played in two games and tallied 26 assists.

SOU showed off its dominance in the first set, jumping out to a 14-0 lead. Wortel and Samantha Yutzie both had two kills during the run. Wortel ended the set with back-to-back kills.

Wortel also had back-to-back kills in the second set to give the Raiders some breathing room at 16-8.

Holgen added a kill at 21-14 and Yutzie put the set away at 25-18.

In the finale, Simpson tried to stay close, but a Holgen kill put gave Southern a 21-15 lead and they cruised the straight set victory.

Maggie Rivers (Salem, Ore./McNary) led Southern with 17 digs, while Becky Johnstone (Lake Arrowhead, Calif./Rim of the World) had 10.