Box Score KIRKLAND, Wash. - Northwest University took the first set, but #13 Southern Oregon came back strong winning three straight to defeat the Eagles, 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17), in Cascade Conference action tonight in the Pavilion.
 
The young Eagles fell behind SOU in the first set 16-12, but would slowly gain ground on the #13 Raiders.  Two straight attack errors by SOU would close the gap to 19-18 and a Dakota Adams' kills would cut the Raider lead to one, 19-18. Mattie Jo Johnson would tie the set at 21-21 with her kill. With SOU leading 22-21, NU would come back again, and a Raider miscue along with a kill by NU's Rae Ann Haistings giving NU the 23-22 lead which they would hold until another Haistings kills would end the set.
 
In set two, Southern Oregon would hold a narrow lead in the early going, but an attack error by Northwest would increase the Raider lead to 18-12. NU would close to within four, 23-19, but a Paulla Pinheiro kill and two NU errors would give SOU the set win.
 
Set three would see the teams tied at 10-all, but a 4-2 SOU run capped off by a Pinheiro kill would grow the lead to 16-12. Southern Oregon would maintain the lead the remainder of the set for the 25-22 win.
 
Another SOU run in the final set would see an 11-9 lead grow to 18-12 after a Motade Atanda kill and two errors by Northwest. Up 22-16, the Raiders would close out the set and match outscoring NU 3-1, aided by kills by Emma Gasman and Atanda.
 
Atanda led Southern Oregon (13-3, 7-1 CCC) with a match high 20 kills and .400 hitting average. Emma Gasman added 13 kills (.310) while Lauren McGowne led both teams with 51 assists while adding 11 digs. Brookelyn Cole led the Raiders with 22 digs.
 
Northwest U (9-10, 2-4 CCC) was led by senior Rae Ann Haistings' 14 kills. Freshman Amanda Waterman had 12 kills and 18 digs and freshman Mattie Jo Johnson had 10 kills and a match high .471 hitting average.  Brooke Riddle, another freshman, led the way with 22 assists while sophomore Leia Roy posted a match high 24 digs.

"I was pleased with our overall effort against a very talented SOU squad tonight," commented Steven Bain, Eagles head coach. "We missed some opportunities in transition that Southern Oregon was able to convert and that was the difference in the match. Still, it is an experience we can learn from and if we can sustain a growth mindset it will only help us the next time we compete."
 
Both teams are back in CCC action tomorrow when Northwest U hosts Oregon Tech and SOU plays Evergreen in Olympia.