Isiah Carter, David Weider, and Sam Woods before yesterday’s victory over Eastern Oregon University

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football @CarterTheGr8_

Here are the games:
Game 1 – Saint Xavier (Ill.) (7-3) at Morningside (Iowa) (10-1)
Game 2 – Point (Ga.) (8-2) at Baker (Kan.) (10-1)
Game 3 – Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (8-2) at Grand View (Iowa) (10-1)
Game 4 – Reinhardt (Ga.) (9-1) at Saint Francis (Ind.) (9-0)
Game 5 – Dickinson State (N.D.) (8-2) at Montana Tech (9-1)
Game 6 – Campbellsville (Ky.) (8-2) at Marian (Ind.) (8-2)
Game 7 – Kansas Wesleyan (10-1) at Southern Oregon (8-2)
Game 8 – Doane (Neb.) (9-1) at Tabor (Kan.) (10-1)

Here are the predictions:
Game 1 – Morningside (Iowa) by 20+
Game 2 – Slight edge to Baker (Kan.)
Game 3 – Slight edge to Grand View (Iowa)
Game 4 – Slight edge to Saint Francis (Ind.)
Game 5 – Montana Tech by 20+
Game 6 – Slight edge to Marian (Ind.)
Game 7 – Southern Oregon by 20+
Game 8 – Doane (Neb.) by 7+

For SOU to host a second round game they will likely need three of the top six teams to lose in the first round. Morningside and Montana Tech will probably be victorious, but three of the other four games could go to the visiting team. If that doesn’t happen, SOU may be traveling to Montana Tech for the second round.

Posted on November 15th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: football, isiah carter, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sam woods, Southern Oregon University, sports photography. Comments Off on NAIA FCS first round predictions

Lauren McGowne

@courtney_setzer @SOURaiders @RaiderVB @LMcGowne @souwbb

Courtney Setzer

Lauren McGowne and Courtney Setzer were named Players of the Week for the Cascade Conference. Details here.

Posted on November 2nd, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: basketball, Courtney Setzer, Lauren McGowne, Nikon AF‑S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on Players of the Week

@SOURaiders @ashlynflynn0216 @RaiderVB

Well, at least last year’s contest was (see below), and just as much is on the line tonight, so I don’t see why tonight’s affair should be any different.

The entire season has been building up to this. Eastern Oregon is 21-2; Southern Oregon is 21-2. Need more be said?

7 p.m. start time. Don’t be late or there may not be any seats.

Posted on October 30th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on Crazy exciting volleyball game tonight

@SOURaiders @RaiderVB @LMcGowne

A 3-0 week will likely mean a conference championship. Anything less probably doesn’t…

SOU is undefeated at home. No reason to change that fact this week.

Higher resolution:

Posted on October 27th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: Lauren McGowne, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on BIG volleyball games this week

#1 Julius Rucker Jr.

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football @Jrucker10

For the first time since the preseason poll, the NAIA football coaches (or at least the 15 with voting power) have selected SOU as the #1 NAIA football team. Ironically, it’s the first week that Massey has SOU as anything other than #1. Massey shows Reinhardt as their new #1 and SOU as #2. The coaches have Reinhardt at #6. Reinhardt has a bye week followed by their most difficult opponent, so far, Campbellsville on the road on 11/7. Reinhardt is still a 7-point favorite in that one. SOU is a 14-point favorite at Rocky Mountain this weekend.

Posted on October 26th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: football, julius rucker, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography. Comments Off on #1

Matt Retzlaff and Jeremy Scottow celebrate.
Scottow threw for a touchdown, caught a pass for a touchdown, and was the holder for several PATs in the victory over College of Idaho.

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football @Scottow12 @Matt_Retzlaff

After yesterday’s games Massey has given Reinhardt its #1 ranking, a ranking held by SOU for most of the season. The coaches will likely go with SOU or Morningside in tomorrow’s poll. Massey doesn’t have Morningside in its top five.

I previously hinted that the Frontier Conference may have only one team reach the postseason, but with Montana Tech’s victory over Carroll yesterday, things could go otherwise. If Montana Tech can get by Eastern Oregon this coming weekend, the winner of the Montana Tech vs. Montana Western contest on 11/14/15 may also make the postseason (along with SOU, assuming things go well for the Raiders the next few weeks). If EOU beats Tech and Tech beats Montana Western, then Southern Oregon will likely be the only Frontier Conference team to make the postseason.

Posted on October 25th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: football, Matt Retzlaff, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography, Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Battle for #1

Courtney Macklin and Corynn Kopra covering Nila Lukens’ kill

@SOURaiders @RaiderVB @RinnieThePoooh @nillawafer_8

After a sporting event that I’ve taken photos of, I usually do a quick run through of the pics and delete about half of them. The reasons for the deletions vary, but they usually consist of one or more of the following: subject out of focus, lack of action, awkward face, lighting that can’t be salvaged, lack of eyes/ball in frame, and/or already have a similar photo that is better.

When I first saw this photo, my finger went to the delete key since the potential subject (Nila) is out of focus. Then I paused a bit and looked at Courtney and Corynn. I immediately realized that they were the real subjects. I had prefocused on someone at the net before taking this, as it is extremely difficult to get a decent focus in gym lighting if you try to focus at the last second (especially when you are on the opposite side of the net from your subject).

I don’t know if I have any shots of really good “covering” that were intentionally set up that way, but this one looks like it was. Therefore, it became a keeper. Actually it’s one of my favorite volleyball shots due to its uniqueness. There are loads of great volleyball kill photos out there, but how many good shots of players covering a potential block do you see?

Posted on October 20th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: corynn kopra, courtney macklin, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, nila lukens, photography, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography, the whole picture, volleyball. Comments Off on The Whole Picture (part 18)

Sean Tow scored two TDs and averaged 4.3 yards per carry in the Southern Oregon victory

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football @Seantow17

Details about the game can be found here.

Now let’s take a look at the rankings and potential playoff implications.

First the rankings… The coaches’ poll comes out Monday, but with Lindsey Wilson and Southern Oregon both winning, the #1 and #2 spots probably won’t change. Massey Ratings predicts that #1 (in the coaches’ poll, #8 on Massey) Lindsey Wilson will lose their next game to #8 (in the coaches’ poll, #2 on Massey) Reinhardt by almost a full touchdown. Massey gives Lindsey Wilson only a 31% chance of victory. SOU is a 10.5 point favorite over College of Idaho with a 79% chance of victory, according to Massey, this coming weekend.

Carroll College took a big hit in Massey Ratings, dropping from #2 to #7. Unfortunately for Carroll College, no team with 3 losses made the NAIA football playoffs last year unless they received an automatic bid via a conference championship. That seems exceedingly unlikely for Carroll so another SOU vs. Carroll match up this year has become remote. Note that the NAIA football playoff system doesn’t consider Massey Ratings or any other unbiased rating system. Eastern Oregon didn’t get in last year even with a top 16 ranking in the coaches’ poll.

With the nation’s strongest NAIA conference teams beating up on each other, there is now a possibility that only one Frontier Conference team will make the playoffs. Montana Tech, the only other Frontier Conference team with only one loss, still has games left against Eastern Oregon, Carroll, and SOU. They will likely end the season with 3 or 4 losses and no invitation to the playoffs. Montana Western has the easiest schedule of the Frontier Conference, only having to face SOU, Carroll, Eastern Oregon, and Montana Tech once each. However, they already have two losses and still have to get by decent teams like Rocky Mountain and College of Idaho. They finish the season against Montana Tech so it will be very difficult for them to end up with just two losses as well.

In conclusion, while Massey still has 6 Frontier Conference teams in the top 13 positions, only one Frontier Conference team is a lock to make the 16-team playoffs.

Posted on October 18th, 2015 under only in ashland. Tags: football, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, Southern Oregon University, sports photography. Comments Off on SOU beat Carroll at home again

#SOUCountMeIn students

@SOUAshland @SaigoatSOU @RoySaigo #SOUCountMeIn

In celebration of the big game a donor has pledge to match all gifts made to the Count Me In Campaign on game day (up to $10,000)! Make your gift count double today!

Join the campaign and make a difference for a student.

Text @SOU to 52014 or give online at countmein.sou.edu

The 2015 Count Me In campaign has less than 48 hours to go. Can we count you in? Every gift counts!

100 HOURS – 100 SCHOLARSHIPS – 100 LIVES CHANGED

SOU CountMeIn Scholarship recipient

President Roy Saigo

Posted on October 17th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: President Roy Saigo, Southern Oregon University. Comments Off on Gameday match