Raiders get 3rd win against Northwest 3-2

For the third time this season, the Southern Oregon beach volleyball team defeated Northwest (Wash.) on Friday after winning the first three matches of the contest at the Churchill Sand Volleyball Courts.

The Raiders (3-5 overall) took a pair of tiebreaker sets in their 3-2 win over the Eagles (0-6). Their No. 4 pair, Kayla Neidigh and Simone Gordon, won the first by topping Ellie Van Berkum and Morgan Harter, 21-13, 14-21, 16-14. Simultaneously, the No. 2 pair of Taylor Jackson and Karina Oliveira swept Kaitlyn Mickle and Madelynn Culp, 21-19, 21-19.

Top pair Madi Gray and Skyy Nihipali-Botelho clinched the team victory with a 13-21, 21-19, 15-11 win over Allie Flynn and Carlee Rowell.

“We went up with our 2 and 4 pairs winning and secured the match with a gutsy come-from-behind win by our 1 pair,” SOU coach Paul Elliott said. “The level of play is outstanding from both programs.”

The Raiders play two more Saturday, facing top-ranked Corban at 10 a.m. and Bushnell at 4 p.m.

SOUTHERN OREGON 3, NORTHWEST 2
1. Madi Gray/Skyy Nihipali-Botelho, SOU, def. Allie Flynn/Carlee Rowell, 2-1 (13-21, 21-19, 15-11)
2. Taylor Jackson/Karina Oliviera, SOU, def. Kaitlyn Mickle/Madelynn Culp, 2-0 (21-19, 21-19)
3. Caitlyn James/Kelsey Moore, NU, def. Addison Weckerle/Savannah Schwindt, 2-0 (25-23, 21-16)
4. Kayla Neidigh/Simone Gordon, SOU, def. Ellie Van Berkum/Morgan Harter, 2-1 (21-13, 14-21, 16-14)
5. Masa Spela Jarc/Delaney Sparks, NU, def. Kiya Jackson/AC Reyes, 2-0 (21-12, 21-14)
Order of finish: 2-4-5-1-3