After cruising to two victories on Friday without dropping a set, the top-ranked Sunbirds are ready for more of a challenge.
They’ll get just that tomorrow when they take on Embry-Riddle (FL) and #13 Southern Oregon, the host school, at the Paul Elliott Invitational in Ashland.
Embry-Riddle is a team the Sunbirds haven’t seen much of over the years, but the Eagles went 24-8 last season including 18-0 in the Sun Conference.
They received 61 votes in this week’s preseason poll which left them four spots out of the top 25. The Eagles showed last night that they may belong in the rankings, knocking off Southern Oregon 3-1.
Still Southern Oregon may be the toughest challenge for the Sunbirds, as they get the added advantage of playing on their home court. The Raiders are coming off a 24-4 season, return nine players, and are picked to finish first in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
The Sunbirds swept the Raiders 3-0 in last year’s tournament.
“We’re looking forward to competing against two very good teams," said FPU coach Dennis Janzen. "Embry-Riddle is much improved and Southern Oregon is #13 in the country, playing at home. It’s going to be a very intense environment in a hostile gym. All of that is good for us as we continue to develop."