ASHLAND – The No. 20-ranked Southern Oregon volleyball team ended its opening weekend at 3-1 after sweeping Menlo (Calif.) and dropping a four-setter to Vanguard (Calif.) during the final day of the Raider Invitational on Saturday at Lithia Motors Pavilion.

The Raiders took down the Oaks 25-21, 25-22, 25-17 behind Marin Mackey's 11 kills and eight digs and Carol Melo's nine-kill performance in the morning session. In the evening, they won their 10th consecutive set against the Lions before falling 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19.

The sweep of Menlo required them to erase a seven-point deficit early in the second set, where they later trailed 22-19 before rattling off six consecutive points. Kills from Kayla Neidigh and Tessa Zimmerman capped the rally, which started with four consecutive unforced Oaks errors.

SOU also finished with a 13-5 run in the third, where Melo tallied four kills and a block. Mackey finished it with a kill and hit at a .429 average in the match. Vitoria Mattos shined with 16 assists and nine digs, and Neidigh collected a match-high 12 digs.

The Oaks later upset No. 2-ranked Corban in a five-set affair.

SOU's loss to Vanguard, which went 3-1 on the weekend and received votes in the NAIA Top 25 preseason poll, spoiled a 14-block effort. Sadie Byrd had seven of them, Tessa Zimmerman assisted six and Megan Perry added five.

The Lions' defense stole the show, however, led by libero Natalie Escher's 20 digs and Bailey Olbur's seven blocks. Olbur added seven kills and Morgan Cole totaled a match-high 16.

Mackey had 11 kills and Hannah Stadstad had eight on 17 attempts to lead the Raiders' attack, which was held to a .083 average.

The Raiders will be at the Menlo Invitational on Wednesday and Thursday for their final four matches before the start of Cascade Conference play.