ROCKLIN, Calif. – The completion of a perfect stay at the William Jessup Invitational on Saturday put the Southern Oregon University volleyball team at 9-1 as it turns its attention to a Cascade Conference title defense next week.
The sixth-ranked Raiders had little trouble during their third and fourth matches in two days at Warrior Court, where they took 12 of 15 sets overall. They defeated UC Merced by scores of 25-17, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-19, and Simpson (Calif.) in a 25-17, 25-22, 25-20 sweep.
Taylor Ristvedt compiled 20 kills on the day, including 12 in the first match, and
Maddie Pernich had 18, including 12 in the second.
With 41 kills on the weekend, Ristvedt became the eighth player in team history to go over 1,000 in her career.
Against Merced, she was complemented by senior outside hitter
Nila Lukens' sharpest outing of the season, a nine-kill effort on a .471 attacking average.
Makayla Hoyt had nine kills on 19 swings,
Elliott Cook added nine kills and four blocks, and
Emma Ryan led the team with 16 digs.
The Raiders dominated Simpson from the outset with 10 consecutive points in the opening frame and eight straight in the second. Ristvedt added eight kills to Pernich's 12,
Kya Knuth and
Myla Norvell had nine digs each and setter
Hannah Bogatin recorded three service aces.
Tehani Faitau led the Raiders with 34 assists on the day. They hit .256 in the first match and a season-best .326 in the second.
SOU will open CCC play with four straight matches at Lithia Motors Pavilion, starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Oregon Tech and 1 p.m. Friday against Walla Walla (Wash.).
