ROCKLIN, Calif. – Southern Oregon completed a perfect stay at the William Jessup Invitational and matched the team's top attacking average since head coach
Josh Rohlfing took over 15 years ago in the process, sweeping UC Merced and Simpson (Calif.) on Friday at Warrior Arena.
The Raiders finished non-conference play at 6-1 by taking 12 of 13 sets on the week. They started Day 2 with a 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 win over UC Merced, then drubbed Simpson by scores of 25-14, 25-8 and 25-11 while collectively hitting at a .500 clip.
They were efficient against the Bobcats (1-3), too, with a .316 average behind
Mylena Testoni's 12 kills and nine digs.
Hannah Stadstad and
Hailey Van Well both recorded nine kills on 16 attempts, and
Sadie Byrd had six on 11.
Carol Melo contributed four kills and assisted six of SOU's seven blocks, while
Hannah Randall distributed 21 assists with two service aces and
Gwen Sheldon added 16 assists.
Testoni went for 13 kills on 19 attempts and three aces against the Redhawks, and the Raiders weren't blocked once on 78 swings. Sheldon had 18 assists and Randall had 17, helping Van Well get to 12 kills and
Simone Gordon get to eight.
Kayla Neidigh totaled team-highs of 13 digs in both matches.
Over four matches at the Invitational, Testoni compiled 48 kills and committed just seven attacking errors. She averaged 3.7 kills per set and hit .460.
SOU starts its Cascade Conference schedule next week at home, playing Walla Walla (Wash.) at 2 p.m. Friday and Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) at 5 p.m. Saturday.