Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

COMING UP: at No. 22 Southern Oregon, Wednesday, 6 p.m.; vs. No. 5 Corban, Friday, 7 p.m.; vs. Bushnell, Saturday, 5 p.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK

TICKET INFORMATION: For home matches at Danny Miles Court, tickets can be purchased online through the OIT Ticket Portal or the day of the match at the gate. Tickets are $8.00 for adults, with a $5.00 ticket available for seniors, military members or OIT alumni. All seating is general admission.

WATCH LIVE: Wednesday's match at Southern Oregon will be carried online through SOU's Stretch Internet Portal with Bill Jacobs calling the action. Fans unable to make it to the Basin for the weekend matches can watch live through Oregon Tech's Stretch Internet Portal, with Mike Safford calling the action. Live in-game stats will also be provided for all three matches through the OIT SIDEARM Stats Portal.
 
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET: OIT will play three matches this week, beginning with a rivalry date at Southern Oregon (earlier start time at 6 p.m.), before hosting Corban and Bushnell on Friday and Saturday. All three teams are in the NAIA Top-25 poll – SOU at No. 22, Corban at No. 5, with Bushnell receiving votes.
 
HOUSE OF HORRORS: Last season, the Lady Owls completed a series sweep of Southern Oregon – their first-ever sweep of the Raiders – and ending a 17-year winless drought against their rival. OIT is a combined 2-26 in Ashland since 1998, with the lone victories in 2005 and 2021.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – SOUTHERN OREGON: A year after missing out on the Cascade Conference Tournament, the Raiders (10-1, 4-0 CCC) have regained their rhythm – as an offense averaging 13.1 kills and hitting at a .251 clip have blitzed early season foes. Hailey Van Well (3.28 k/s, 0.39 b/s) was the 2021 CCC Freshman of the Year and is having a tremendous year, with Mylena Testoni (3.00 k/s, 3.11 d/s, 16 aces) and Simone Gordon (2.17 k/s, 0.48 b/s) among the top offensive performers.  Setter Hannah Randall (5.39 a/s, 1.38 d/s) splits time in the 6-2 offense, while libero Kayla Heidigh (3.84 d/s) is the top defender. SOU holds a 51-6 all-time series lead.
 
TOUGH WEEKEND TASK: Defending CCC champ Corban and NAIA national qualifier Bushnell make their annual appearance this weekend in the Basin. Depending on Wednesday's Top-25 poll, Corban could be the highest ranked team ever to play at Danny Miles Court, as the fifth-ranked Warriors look to supplant Eastern Oregon, who came to Klamath Falls ranked No. 6 in 2017. OIT last swept the weekend series with the Willamette Valley foes in 2015.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – CORBAN: The fifth-ranked Warriors (11-2, 4-1) have won 12-straight sets since a home loss to Eastern Oregon on Sept. 2, with the club hitting at a .238 clip, while allowing less than one ace per set. Hitters Avari Ridgway (3.47 k/s, 2.91 d/s) and Rylee Troutman (3.56 k/s, 2.78 d/s, 20 aces) are among the top offensive producers in the CCC. Setter Jadyn Mullen (5.88 a/s, 1.91 d/s, 15 aces) handles the setting duties, with Kealani Ontai (4.81) the libero. Corban holds a 28-26 series lead, including wins in 13 of the last 14 meetings.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – BUSHNELL: The weekend closes against the Beacons (8-5, 3-2), who made their first-ever trip to the NAIA Opening Round in 2021. BU features key offensive options in Shay Coons (2.22 k/s, 1.23 d/s), Leah Agost (2.17 k/s, 0.48 b/s) and Jessica Northcutt (2.36 k/s, 1.86 d/s), with setter Makenna Northern (7.47 a/s, 1.77 d/s) and libero Callie Wilkins (4.51 d/s, 23 aces) both All-CCC picks. The two teams have split the season series each of the last six years, with Tech holding a 19-13 series lead including a 12-5 mark at home.
 
REYES JOINS 1,000 CLUB: It was a quality weekend for Nicole Reyes, combining for 31 kills and 24 digs in the two matches in Washington. The fifth-year senior joined the exclusive 1,000-dig club with her 14th dig at Evergreen – becoming just the ninth OIT player to reach the milestone – while posting her 43rd career double-double. Reyes is closing in on the 1,000-kill mark, sitting 31 kills away from the milestone and joining Kelsey Sampson as the only Lady Owls to post 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
 
HUGE TRIP FOR GRACE: The top hitter on the OIT team through the first two weeks of CCC play has been Molly Grace, who leads the league in attack percentage (.494) – combining for 49 kills in 87 swings with just six errors. Grace was key in the Friday win at Northwest, posting six kills on 11 swings with no errors, while adding 15 kills on 30 swings at Evergreen, while adding two blocks.
 
STERCK HAS NEAR PERFECT MATCH: Tech earned a big road win at Northwest, with Savanna Sterck leading the way with 12 kills on 18 swings without a hitting error. It marked the third time this season an OIT hitter has recorded 12-or-more kills without an error – and the fifth time a Lady Owl has recorded 12-or-more kills without an error in program history.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR TEVELDE: After further review of the Evergreen game film, Paige Tevelde was credited with a double-double in the 4-set loss, posting 27 assists and 10 digs. It was the second double-double of the year for the Owls setter, who is averaging 4.7 assists per set and ranks second on the team with 13 aces.
 
AROUND THE CCC: Two teams remain unbeaten in conference play, as Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon sit with perfect 4-0 records – with Corban and Evergreen a half game back at 4-1. This week, Multnomah and Warner Pacific head to Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho; Northwest and Evergreen travel to Lewis-Clark State and Walla Walla, with SOU and OIT hosting Corban and Bushnell.
 
RECORD BOOK: Seven current players rank among the Top-20 in the OIT career record book. Nicole Reyes leads the way, ranking No. 4 in kills (969), No. 9 in digs (1,002), No. 9 in sets played (387), No. 10 in aces (87) and No. 12 in matches played (108). Aubrey Kievit is No. 2 in digs (1,429) and No. 19 in aces (70); Courtney Isom is No. 9 in assists (1,273); Kaylin Talonen is No. 10 in kills (767); Brooke Cassidy is No. 13 in assists (525); Ashley Ripplinger is No. 13 in blocks (220); with Paige Tevelde No. 15 in assists (328).
 
LOOKING AHEAD: OIT hits the road for matches next Friday at College of Idaho and Saturday at league-leading Eastern Oregon.