Box Score Box Score
Pilots Suffer Hard Fought Loss to USF in WCC Opener
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. --- The Portland Pilots fell to the San Francisco Dons 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-22) Thursday evening in War Memorial Gym in San Francisco, Calif. The match was Portland’s opening match of West Coast Conference play.
The result moves Portland to a 5-11 (0-1 WCC) record, while USF improves to 11-4 (1-0 WCC). The result marks the fourth straight win for the Dons.
Senior Ashley Grayson paced both teams with a match high 12 kills, and also helped out on defense with three digs and two block assists. Jessica Clemens slammed down 10 kills and senior Jennifer Sheedy added six to the Pilot attack. Danielle Dupar got under eight digs for the team high, while freshman Marissa Plummer denied the Dons’ attack five times, all block assists.
USF was led by setter Darcy Carroll who ended with a double-double, which included 24 assists and 11 digs. Seniors Alix Gombos and Carly Babin connected on nine kills each. Junior libero Haley Carroll, the WCC defensive player of the year last season, finished with the match high in digs with 14.
In the first set, USF was leading the entire way until Portland equalized at 19-19, after an offensive flurry with three straight kills coming from Jessica Clemens, Grayson and Sheedy, but the Dons would put away the set.
Portland quickly leaped ahead in the second set 8-2 and ran with it to lead 17-7. USF would creep back to equalize at 21-21 eventually stealing a second straight set from under the Pilots’ feet.
The Pilots were a force to be reckoned with in the third, enjoying the lead as late as 21-20. But again, Portland couldn’t finish the set and USF walked away with the sweep.
The Pilots have Friday to rest and travel to San Diego, for a Saturday match against the 16th-ranked Toreros at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The first serve is set for 12:00 p.m.
Live stats and a live video feed are available for the match against San Diego. Visit the volleyball schedule at portlandpilots.com for direct links.
