Box Score Box Score
MALIBU, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots pushed the No. 16 Pepperdine Waves to five sets Saturday afternoon at the Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif. Powered by a double-double by sophomore Jessica Clemens and 21 kills from senior Ashley Grayson, Portland would take the match as far as an 11-11 tie in the fifth, before ultimately falling to Pepperdine.
With the 15-25, 20-25, 25-22, 28-26, 11-15 result, the Pilots now sit at 5-16 and 0-6 in the WCC, while the Waves improve to 16-1, 4-1.
Jessica Clemens‘ double-double resulted from 11 kills and 18 digs.
Portland had two other players in double digits in kills with Grayson earning the match high with 21, and senior Jennifer Sheedy finishing with 14. Grayson's 21 kills tied her career high and the team's season high, which Grayson posted against South Florida on Sept. 6. Sheedy also denied the Waves' attack with a team high six blocks, including two solos.
Portland led Pepperdine in team blocks, with 10 to their six.
Pepperdine claimed the first two sets comfortably then Portland rose to the occasion to earn third and fourth set victories, in front of a crowd of 593 fans in the Firestone Fieldhouse.
The third set saw the score tied nine times before Portland pushed ahead at 21-19 courtesy of a Waves service error and a kill by Sheedy. Another kill by Sheedy and one by Grayson was followed by a block from junior setter Kaylyn Jones and freshman Marissa Plummer to secure the set.
Portland leapt out to an 8-3 lead in the fourth, but the Waves threatened to steal the set with an eight-point-streak that earned them the lead at 11-8. The Pilots would fall behind as far as 16-11 before they fought back to equalize at 19-19, thanks to a kill from Sheedy, two from Jessica Clemens, and three from Grayson. Two kills in a row by Sheedy would move Portland ahead to 21-19. The Waves would creep back to tie it up at 24-24, and then again at 26-26 before the Pilots would seal the set.
The final set would see Portland claim the early lead at 5-4. An attacking spree by Pepperdine would move the Waves ahead but Portland’s Plummer and Jessica Clemens would connect on kills to tie the match at 11-11. Here Pepperdine would go on a 4-0 run to claim the match.
The Pilots finished with a .274 hitting percentage to Pepperdine’s .319. Pepperdine was powered by five players who reached double digits in kills, three of which posted double-doubles. Senior Julie Rubenstein had 17 kills and 15 digs, junior Rachel Lumsden had 14 kills and 11 digs, and freshman Lilla Frederick had 11 kills and 10 digs.
Portland hosts WCC opponent Gonzaga on Saturday Oct. 25 at 1:00 p.m. before taking on Cal State Bakersfield on Monday, Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. Both games are played at the Chiles Center in Portland, Ore.
Live stats and a live video feed are available for the matches against Gonzaga and Cal State Bakersfield. Visit the volleyball schedule at portlandpilots.com.
