ASHLAND – Southern Oregon University's fall sports season yielded 27 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, the last of which were announced over the weekend by the national office.

To become an honoree, one must be a junior or senior academically, have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better, and have been at their current institution for at least a year. During the 2016-17 school year, SOU had 29 such athletes for all three seasons combined, and there were 21 the previous year.

The Raider women's soccer team led the way again with seven Scholar Athletes: Sarah Garoutte (criminology), Jacqueline Laird (English and writing major), Macaylea Mitchell (environmental studies), Kelsey Randall (business), Andi Rasmussen (health and P.E.), Simone Schroder (pre-nursing) and Makena Totushek (nursing).

Six Raider volleyball players were recognized: Kiley Barcroft (pre-nursing), Hannah Bogatin (business), Natalie James (sociology), Nila Lukens (biology), Taylor Ristvedt (environmental science) and Ariana Sattler (biology).

The SOU men's cross country team was next with five honorees: Caleb Diaz (economics), Noah Oberriter (pre-nursing), Aidan Paulk (psychology), Kevin Poteracke (mathematics) and Ray Schireman (biochemistry). Kayle Blackmore (communications) and Jessa Perkinson (psychology) represented the women's squad.

From the Raider men's soccer team, Brendan Allen (business), Takoda Daubel (pre-medicine), Paul Matyas (environmental science) and Daniel Zamores (pre-physical therapy) were listed.

SOU's football team was represented by Tyler Cox (outdoor adventure leadership), Isaac Hurd (criminal justice) and Caden Johnson (health and P.E.).

Earlier this fall, 49 Raiders were named to the Academic All-Cascade Conference team – more than any school in the CCC.