ASHLAND, Ore.  – Jessica Northcutt recorded a career-high 20 kills for the Bushnell University volleyball team, but 17^th-ranked Southern Oregon won the five-set battle, 25-14, 21-25, 26-28, 25-19, 15-13 on Friday night at the Lithia Motors Pavilion.
 
The Beacons (8-6, 3-3 CCC) who are currently receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll, dropped the first set before battling back with wins in the next two.

Trailing 24-21 in the third, the Beacons kept fighting, using a 7-2 run to take the set and a 2-1 lead in the match. SOU took the fourth to send the teams into a decisive fifth set. Bushnell fought off a pair of match points before the Raiders came away with the victory.
 
Head Coach Jason Corwin said, "It was a hard-fought battle against a good team on their home floor. We were just a few plays short in the end but I am proud of our grit and resiliency. Tonight shows just how tough our conference is."
 
SOU (11-2, 5-1) hit .168 in the match with setters Gwen Sheldon and Hannah Randall combining for 50 assists. Mylena Testoni posted a double-double with 18 kills and 14 digs, while Hailey Van Well added 12 kills. Kayla Neidigh collected 26 digs for the Raiders.
 
Northcutt and Halle Neumann led the offensive production for the Beacons. Northcutt led all players with 20 kills, adding eight digs and four blocks. Neumann reached the 500 career-kill milestone in the match, becoming the 11^th Beacon in school history to do so. She finished with 13 kills and four blocks on the night.
 
Makenna Northern was all over the floor, recording a double-double with 37 assists and 15 digs. Callie Wilkins had another strong night, posting a season-high 32 digs and added three aces. Payton Jones added seven kills and led all players with seven blocks as the Beacons out-blocked the Raiders, 11-9.
 
The Beacons finish off the road trip at Oregon Tech, taking on the Owls on Saturday at 5:00 pm.