Box Score Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Ashley Grayson and Jessica Clemens collected 15 kills each to lead the University of Portland volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Cal State Bakersfield Monday night at the Chiles Center. The Pilots overcame a first set loss to win 22-25, 25-19, 25-22 and 25-16.
Portland (6-17) snaps a seven-match losing streak with the win, while the Roadrunners (13-11) had a two-match win streak come to an end.
The Pilots got a big boost from freshman reserve setter Allix Strahon, who came on in the second set and finished with a career-high 32 assists. Her previous high was 10 in the first match of the season. Clemens logged her ninth double-double of the season as well with a career-high 19 digs.
Portland gained a 7-3 edge in total blocks for the match and hit .291 compared to the Roadrunners at .152.
After a forgettable first set, the Pilots came on strong in the second set as Grayson, Clemens and senior K.C. Fox led the way with five kills each. Portland hit a remarkable .516 for the set with 19 kills in 31 total attacks as they cruised to a 25-19 victory.
The third set started slowly for Portland as the Roadrunners raced to a 14-9 lead on consecutive kills by Sarah Warner. The Pilots used a 5-0 run on Maria Clemens’ serve highlighted by a pair of block assists from freshman middle blocker Marissa Plummer. Bakersfield claimed a 19-18 lead on a service ace by Barbie Thistle, but the Pilots rattled off 5-1 run capped by a Jessica Clemens’ ace to take control of the set and push to a 25-22 win.
The fourth and final set was all Portland as the Pilots led from start to finish. Grayson dominated the set with seven kills, while Jessica Clemens provided the defense with seven digs. Portland closed the match with a 12-5 run to pull away down the stretch.
Freshman Lindy DeGeare was the only Roadrunner with double-digit kills as she led the team with 10. Thistle dished out a match-high 33 assists, while senior libero Mystie McNaughton had 19 digs.
Portland will begin the second half of the West Coast Conference schedule this weekend by hosting No. 17 San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. and WCC-leading San Francisco on Saturday at noon.
