kopra
Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo
1
Northwest University NU 12-6, 8-4
3
Winner Southern Oregon SOU 16-2, 9-2
Northwest University NU
12-6, 8-4
1
Final
3
Southern Oregon SOU
16-2, 9-2
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Northwest University NU 15 25 15 24 (1)
Southern Oregon SOU 25 23 25 26 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | SOU Sports Information

No. 12 SOU fights off Northwest in four

ASHLAND – In need of a breakthrough win, the Northwest University volleyball team was on the brink of taking 12th-ranked Southern Oregon to a tiebreaker set Friday night at Riehm Arena.

In need of any kind of win to halt a rare losing streak, the Raiders didn't budge. SOU came from behind by scoring five of the final six points in a 25-15, 23-25, 25-15, 26-24 victory over the Eagles to remain in second place in the Cascade Conference standings.

Four Raiders put up double-figure kill totals: Tyana Andrews (17), Corynn Kopra (15), Niki Small (12) and Laura Morse (12). Small was particularly impressive, doing her damage on just 18 attacks with one error in leading SOU to a team attacking average of .308. She also assisted four blocks, including two to help the Raiders erase Northwest's 23-21 fourth-set advantage and one with Lauren McGowne to seal the match.

McGowne distributed a match-high 55 assists to go with eight digs and three assisted blocks.

The Raiders went to 16-2 overall and 9-2 in the CCC going into Saturday's 5 p.m. meeting with Evergreen. Northwest – which entered the night tied for third place but had yet to take a set off any of the other top-three teams – fell to 12-6 and 8-4.

"We weren't perfect tonight but we played well enough to win," SOU coach Josh Rohlfing said. "I was really proud of the way we handled adversity against a Northwest team that's much improved and very, very solid."

Mattie Jo Johnson delivered 14 kills on a .667 attacking average for the Eagles, who hit .199 as a team.

The Raiders dominated the first set, going on a 7-1 run to make it 17-10 and never looking back. They were even better in the third, attacking .552 and forcing side-outs on 14 of 16 Northwest serves.

But the Eagles extended the match by scoring the last four points of the second set after falling behind 23-21, as Sydney Schlect finished a couple kills and was in on a block to earn the win. Then they broke a 17-all tie in the fourth with three straight points before SOU answered.

Andrews and Kopra had five kills apiece in the final set. They also both finished with nine digs, and Morse had a team-high 13.

Northwest had nine blocks, led by Johnson's seven assisted. Schlect added 10 kills, Emmaline Stockton had 10 digs, and Morgan Pilon had 40 assists.

SOU has won 16 straight at home dating back to 2013.
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