ASHLAND, Ore. – Willow Jacobson and Kate Hicks combined for 21 kills and 13 blocks, but the big night at the net wasn't enough for Oregon Tech, as the Lady Owls dropped a hard-fought four set decision to No. 16-ranked Southern Oregon at Lithia Motors Pavilion.
 
The Lady Owls (7-14, 5-9 CCC) held a 12-9 edge in total blocks against the top blocking team in the Cascade Conference, but could not overcome a 66-38 edge in total kills in a 25-12, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17 loss to their longtime rivals.
 
Jacobson finished with 11 kills and tied a career-high with seven blocks, with Hicks reaching double-digits in kills for the first time, posting 10 kills and six blocks.
 
Southern (17-5, 10-4) used a 12-2 run in Set 1 to break open a 6-5 score – getting four of Megan Perry's 17 kills in the run. The Raiders erased a 12-11 deficit in Set 2 with an 11-2 push behind four of Marin Mackey's match-high 18 kills.
 
Jacobson and Hicks keyed OIT in Set 3, as back-to-back kills from Jacobson broke a 20-20 deadlock, with a kill from Hicks giving the Lady Owls set-point, with the visitors claiming the set on an SOU hitting error.
 
The Owls block kept Tech close early in Set 4, as five blocks drew the squad within 14-12. However, Mackey keyed a 5-0 run with back-to-back kills and Hannah Stadstad posted three late kills to close out the match.
 
Savanna Sterck had nine kills in the loss for OIT, with Paige Tevelde adding 19 assists and three blocks and Kaley Whalen recording a team-high 13 digs.
 
Stadstad had 16 kills for SOU with setter Vitoria Mattos finishing with 30 assists.
 
OIT returns home Friday for Pink Night as the Lady Owls play host to Multnomah at 7 p.m.