Box Score ASHLAND – It took just about everything the Southern Oregon University volleyball team had to come away with the first set Friday night against Northwest Christian. Despite ultimately winning in three, it rarely got any easier.

The Raiders clawed back from an eight-point deficit to win a 31-29 opening stanza, then went on three runs of seven points or more in the final two sets to finish off the Cascade Conference victory 25-18 and 25-21 at Riehm Arena. SOU was trailing or tied after hitting the 17-point mark in every set.

The Raiders (8-2 overall, 2-0 CCC) leaned on Motade Atanda (San Jose, Calif./Presentation) for the second straight night of their opening-week sweep. The senior outside hitter produced 17 kills on 28 attacks, 11 digs and three assisted blocks. Emma Gasman (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan) hit double figures again with 11 kills, Nikki Keller (Carson City, Nev./Carson) added seven and Lauren McGowne (Coos Bay, Ore./Marshfield) went for 39 assists.

"I was just really impressed with how Northwest Christian came out and how aggressive they were to start the match," Raiders coach Josh Rohlfing said. "That's what they did last year, too, when they beat us at their place; they're just tenacious.

"But I think, for me, the best part of the match tonight was that every time our resolve was tested, we answered the bell. I think a lesser team would've caved."

The Beacons (2-1, 0-1), who were led by Cassidy Winters's 10 kills, won 14 of the match's first 19 points before the Raiders made their move, going on a 12-4 run. SOU still trailed 21-17 before a Beacon service error and three Gasman kills in the span of five points tied it at 22-all. From there, the teams fought off set-point three times each until a Shelby Young (Lincoln, Calif./Whitney) kill ended it.

The Raiders began the second set with a 12-1 lead as Paulla Pinheiro (Fortaleza, Brazil/Colegio Farias Brito) served them to 10 straight points.  NCU eventually tied it at 17-all with a 10-1 rally, receiving the aid of six SOU attacking errors, but the Raiders grabbed eight of the set's last nine points thanks to two Gasman kills and two McGowne aces.

The third set started off similarly favorable for the Raiders when four straight points put them up 9-4. Then they found themselves trailing again, 18-16, before a Pinheiro kill was the first of eight unanswered points, three of which occurred on McGowne aces.

Also making life difficult for the Raiders were Chelsea McGowan and Chandler Gabrio, who totaled eight kills apice. Alyssa Dorr chipped in 25 assists and Kayla Ping 10 digs.

The Raiders were able to coax NCU into a .096 hitting average. And though they only hit .168 themselves, they also limited NCU's specialty – service aces, of which they had just three.

Pinheiro had five kills and 10 digs and Brookelynn Cole (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) added 19 digs for the Raiders, who resume CCC play at home next Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Oregon Tech.