#8 Matt Retzlaff

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football Matt_Retzlaff

The new football rankings have been released, and they look almost identical to my prediction. Fortunately, SOU is in the top eight so a win at Eastern Oregon this Saturday will get them a home playoff game. Unfortunately, only two other teams ahead of the Raiders in the rankings have difficult matchups this weekend. Doane will likely drop out of the top eight. Montana Tech could if they lose at home to Western Montana. Therefore, it will likely take at least two upsets in the first round of the playoffs for the Raiders to earn more than one home playoff game.

Posted on November 9th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: football, Matt Retzlaff, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on #8

Corynn Kopra

@SOURaiders @RaiderVB @RinnieThePoooh

Corynn Kopra and Ray Schireman were named CCC Players of the Week. Lauren McGowne received another honorable mention.

Details here.

Posted on November 9th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: corynn kopra, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on Players of the Week

Ellie Case putting down one of her 46 kills during the 2015 OSAA 5A Volleyball State Championship at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon

@VolleyballGrizz

First Team
Claire Hoffman, 10, Marist Catholic
Kalina Rivera, 12, La Salle Prep
Haley Smith, 10, Summit
Lauren Christie, 10, Lebanon
Tatiana Ensz, 11, Bend
Anna Houser, 12, Marist Catholic

Second Team
Ellie Case, 12, Ashland
Emmerson Smith, 11, La Salle Prep
Kaci Cox, 10, Bend
Rachel Berger, 12, La Salle Prep
Isabella Rainaldi, 12, Summit
Sophie Griese, 11, La Salle Prep

Posted on November 8th, 2015 under people. Tags: AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED lens, ashland high school, ellie, Nikon D750, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on 2015 OSAA 5A Volleyball State Championships All‐Tournament Teams

Seniors Trevor Jones and David Weider (Helena, Montana)

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football

I missed yesterday’s football game, as I was in Portland at the OSAA 5A Volleyball Championship, so the loss was less painful. But has anyone else noticed that the SOU football team has lost three “Senior Day” games in a row? Over the past three seasons, the Raiders are 12-0 at home in games that weren’t Senior Day and 0-3 on Senior Day. Coincidence? I think so, but still…

Massey has dropped SOU in its rankings to #4. The coaches aren’t likely to be as kind. I’m predicting tomorrow’s top ten to look like this:

1. Morningside
2. Baker
3. Grand View
4. Doane
5. Saint Francis
6. Montana Tech
7. Southern Oregon
8. Marian
9. Tabor
10. Montana Western

Assuming SOU and Montana Tech win their final games, I’m predicting the final top seven to look like this:

1. Morningside
2. Baker
3. Grand View
4. Saint Francis
5. Montana Tech
6. Southern Oregon
7. Marian

If things end up this way SOU will likely get only one home game in the playoffs (unless two or more teams in the top five are upset in the first round).

SOU must win at EOU to make the playoffs. The winner of the Montana Tech vs. Montana Western game will also make the playoffs. Montana Western will not make the playoffs if they lose to Montana Tech.

Posted on November 8th, 2015 under people. Tags: football, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on Senior Day Curse? and rankings projections

2015 Ashland High School Volleyball Team

@VolleyballGrizz

Today is day one of the two-day, double elimination championship in Hillsboro, Oregon. You can see the match times and results here.

#7 Ashland squares off against #2 Lebanon first. That doesn’t hardly seem fair given that #13 Churchill gets to go against #5, but that’s OSAA logic for you. For Ashland to win it all, they will likely have to beat the #2, #3, and #1 teams consecutively.

Posted on November 6th, 2015 under people. Tags: ashland high school, Nikon D750, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on 2015 OSAA 5A Volleyball State Championship

@SOUWrestling @SOURaiders @Sydney_Norvell

6:30 p.m. Friday – #12 Menlo at SOU – Riehm Arena

Last chance to watch wrestling at Riehm Arena, before it is demolished for the new facility, is tomorrow night. Both the women and men will be wrestling.

Posted on November 5th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography, sydney norvell, wrestling. Comments Off on SOU Wrestling

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

@LouieVHbk @SOURaiders @SOU_Football

This Saturday’s game wasn’t supposed to be the Big Game of the season. The Carroll game or maybe the final game at Eastern Oregon would have seemed to have been the Big Game before the season began. However, things aren’t working out that way. Montana Tech has been outstanding. They beat Carroll (twice!) and head into this Saturday’s game with the same record as the Raiders (7-1). The winner will likely win the conference and receive an automatic bid to the NAIA football playoffs. The loser will have to win their final game and merely hope to make the post season.

Posted on November 2nd, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: football, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on Homecoming

Ellie Case with one of her 19 kills

@VolleyballGrizz

From the Medford Mail Tribune:
ASHLAND 3, SANDY 1: At Ashland, Ellie Case racked up 19 kills and five aces for Ashland, which dropped the opening set but rebounded for a 23-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-15 victory in the Class 5A state playoff home game.

Karlie Richardson accumulated 35 assists, five kills and four aces and Myla Norvell had 36 digs, five aces and three kills for the Grizzlies, who got 11 kills and three aces from Olivia Rooney.

Posted on November 1st, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: ashland high school, ellie, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on Ashland advances