Box Score Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots wrapped up the first half of the West Coast Conference season with a 3-0 loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs at home in the Chiles Center.
The 21-25, 16-25, 16-25 result brings Portland’s record to 5-17 overall and 0-7 in the WCC, while Gonzaga improves to 8-16 overall and 1-6 in the WCC.
Senior Ashley Grayson paced the Pilots’ attack with a team high 11 kills (.226 attacking percentage), while sophomore Jessica Clemens’ play in the back court saw her post a team high 10 digs. Freshman Marissa Plummer finished with a team high four blocks.
With both teams looking for their first WCC win the match promised to be a battle, but the Pilots never quite found their groove. In all three sets, the Bulldogs would erupt to an early lead, forcing the Pilots to battle back to close the score before Gonzaga would seal the set.
The Pilots started the match off well in set one, powered by six Grayson kills. Portland’s defense held the Bulldogs to a .242 percentage, behind the strength of Jessica Clemens’ five digs. But Portland was unable to capitalize and the Bulldogs enjoyed their largest lead at 21-13. The Pilots would fight back with two kills from Grayson and a solid block from the duo of Plummer and junior Kaylyn Jones to close the score to 16-21. The Pilots would try to hang on with senior Jennifer Sheedy getting above the net twice for blocks with Jessica Clemens, and then with K.C. Fox, but Gonzaga would claim the set.
In the second set, the crowd was treated to several long rallies, but Portland was unable to convert them into points. Gonzaga would jump ahead to a comfortable 14-5 lead. Portland would then rally back to close the score to 22-16, but were unable to hang on.
The third set would play out in much the same fashion as the second, with the Pilots unable to carry any momentum forward from set two. Gonzaga bolted out to a 14-7 lead and would finish the set snuggly at 25-16.
The Bulldogs finished with a .333 hitting percentage to UP’s .154. Match highs in all categories came from Gonzaga players that included 16 kills from Elaina Renius (.591 attacking percentage), five blocks from Caitlin Cozad, 14 digs from Paige Dillingham, and 35 assists from Denise Van de Mortel.
Portland will look to recollect with a match against Cal State Bakersfield, who is playing an independent schedule this year, on Monday Oct. 27 in the Chiles Center. Portland then continues WCC play at home on Thursday Oct. 30 as they “Dig for the Cure” in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation against San Diego at 7:00 p.m.
Live stats and a live video feed are available for the match against Cal State Bakersfield. Visit the volleyball schedule at portlandpilots.com.
