ASHLAND–  With the first week of action under wraps at Southern Oregon University, the sports season is fully under way.  Both volleyball and soccer will be in action this weekend, whereas the Raider football team are in full force in training camp two-a-days and the Cross-Country team is gearing up for another run towards a NAIA title.

Let’s take a in-depth look at what each team is looking at this point in the young season:

VOLLEYBALL–The Lady Raiders have entered this weekend 3-2 on the season and with a big win over fifth-ranked Biola University last Friday night before dropping the next two matches the next day at the Paul Elliott Invitational.

“We learned defensively what we need to be doing, what our [difficulties] are, we definitely feel like we will be a better blocking team after this tournament because we were definitley off in terms of knowing where to be all all times,”  said head coach Josh Rohlfing, “Offensively, we need to be more consistent.”

Heading into this weekend, the Raiders are traveling to Biola University for the Biola Invitational; in which they are playing Westmont, The Master’s College on the first day, second-ranked Concordia-Irvine of California, and Top 10 Vanguard University on the second day.

“The level of competition actually ratchet up a bit heading into this tournament and last weekend’s tournament was a huge test for us so this week I think it’s going to be bigger and its on the road so it’s going to be a task for sure,” said Rohlfing.

SOCCER–The Lady Raiders open the regular season this weekend at home with the opening game on Thursday against Trinity Lutheran College at 11 am and again on Saturday against The Master’s College at 4 in the afternoon, also at home.  Coach Jon Clement had said about the team as,

“We got something special here,” he said, “potential is through the roof, if they can put out everyounce of commitment, this could be the best team the school has ever had.”

The team is coming off an 11 win season and a playoff appearance last season.

FOOTBALL–With a week and a half until Montana-Western, the Raiders are gelling together as an unit.  On the offensive side, the new bodies on the offensive line are getting accustomed to the scheme and operation of Coach Howard’s No-Huddle Spread Offense while at the skill positions, running back Manny Barrigan and quarterback Austin Dodge are showing the coaches the All-American potential that they are expecting from them this season at the 12-day mark of camp.

Defensively, the defensive line and linebacker corps are picking up the mark they left from last season behind Defensive Tackle Juwuana Brown and Middle Linebacker Kalii Robinson.  In the secondary, the Raiders picked up some experience at cornerback with the addition of junior Randy Tyler, whom played for the Raiders in 2010 to bring some leadership to the young secondary.  Sophomore safety Heston Altenbach is showing why he is a force to wrecking with in the safety as his intensity of play has taken a new level from the summer training since day one of camp.

CROSS COUNTRY—  The Raiders Cross Country team is the last fall sports team to tie up the sneakers for the season as they don’t start camp under  now official head coach Grier Gatlin; whom had the interm tag removed over this past off-season, until the end of next week.  Following a 3rd place finish last season, they are heading into camp with 40 athletes and coach has expressed his excitement in his team in the upcoming season.  The Raider runners are opening the season with the Humboldt State Invite on September 8th in Arcata, California.

With another week brings another week’s worth of action.  Also, with another weekend bring more game action and for the Raiders of Southern Oregon to showcase their talent.