EUGENE – The No. 5-ranked Southern Oregon volleyball team was in danger of facing a two-set deficit before finding another gear in a 26-28, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 win against Bushnell on Friday night at the Morse Center.

Megan Perry racked up 16 kills on a .517 attacking average and assisted six blocks to lead the Raiders, who improved to 21-2 overall and 15-2 in the Cascade Conference ahead of Saturday's marquee matchup at No. 9 Corban.

They trailed 22-20 in the second set after losing the extended first but stole it with five unanswered points – a surge capped by three consecutive blocks that Linda Conceicao assisted. The Raiders were in control the rest of the way, jumping out to a 10-4 lead in the third set and finishing the fourth with an 8-2 run.

Though SOU posted a .279 team attack, the difference was its defense. Perry, Conceicao (10 kills, 7 blocks) and Sadie Byrd (5 kills, 6 blocks) dominated play at the net. Kayla Neidigh (20 digs), Marin Mackey (11 kills, 15 digs) and Mylena Testoni (9 kills, 14 digs) steadied the back row.

Perry, meanwhile, continued a run of astonishing offensive efficiency. The senior right-side hitter has totaled 113 kills compared to 13 errors in her last nine matches, turning in a .515 average during the stretch.

She benefited from more consistent play from SOU's setters. Annie Hite and Vitoria Mattos logged 25 assists apiece.

The Beacons (16-9, 11-6) were led by Hailey Heider's 18 kills and 10 digs. They've been swept in the season series by SOU three years in a row.

The Raiders remain in first place, a half-match up (in the win column) over Eastern Oregon and 1 ½ up on Corban.