Box Score

ASHLAND – Even though its preseason schedule spanned just nine days, the Southern Oregon volleyball team made one end of it feel like a world away from the other.
 
The Raiders wrapped up the Paul Elliott Invitational on Friday night with their third straight sweep at Bob Riehm Arena, needing just an hour to take care of Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) with a 25-20, 25-12, 25-13 win.
 
Now they'll head into Cascade Conference play next Friday with tangible proof of improvement. A week after averaging double-digit unforced errors per set in four losses at the Biola Invitational, they committed only three per set against the Warriors (3-5 overall).
 
Senior hitter Liz Madden (Manson, Wash./Manson) was a model of efficiency again for the Raiders (3-4 overall) with 12 kills on a .409 hitting average – her third straight match above .400 – while junior hitter Paulla Pinheiro (Fortaleza, Brazil/Colegio Farias Brito) set a new season high for the second straight match with 13 kills.
 
"I'm really proud of what we did the last couple days," SOU head coach Josh Rohlfing said. "We exemplified our goal, which was to be fluid in our movement and put pressure on the other team. We did that consistently and that was good to see."
 
They did it so consistently, in fact, that LCSC was able to take more than two points in a row twice all night. The Raiders, meanwhile, did it 10 times.
 
SOU finished each set especially strong – taking four of five points to end the first, six of seven to end the second and eight of 10 to end the third.
 
Setters Linday Verboort (23 assists) and Lauren McGowne (Coos Bay, Ore./Marshfield) (16) spread the ball out to help Sam Boehnke (Ashland, Ore./Ashland) and Mona Goudarzian (Albany, Ore./West Albany) post six kills apiece and Tyana Andrews (Rochester, Wash./Centralia) five. Renee Yomtob (Boise, Idaho/Centennial) and Brookelynn Cole (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) boosted the passing game with 14 digs and 13, respectively.
 
"Every time we step on the court I feel like we're improving," Rohlfing said. "That's all you can ask as a coach at this point."
 
Willow Markowitz had 13 kills to pace the Warriors, who fell to Menlo in five sets earlier in the day.
 
The Raiders will now get ready to head north for CCC matches next week at Corban and Northwest Christian. They were picked to finish third in the preseason conference coaches' poll.