Box Score Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots came out firing in the first set, and sophomore Jessica Clemens posted a double-double for the match, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the No. 22 San Francisco Dons in what ended up as a sweep on Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center. The Dons won with scores of 25-21, 25-19, and 25-16, bringing Portland’s record to 6-19/0-9 WCC, while USD improves to 18-5/8-1 WCC.
Jessica Clemens collected two of her team high 14 kills in the opening play of both the first and second sets. Clemens’ also posted 11 digs, earning her a tenth double-double of the season. Senior Ashley Grayson added spark to the Pilot attack with nine kills, while sophomore Danielle Dupar led the defense with 12 digs. Junior Kaylyn Jones and freshman Allix Strahon shared time at the setter’s position posting 17 and 15 assists respectively.
Portland was able to keep San Francisco at bay in the first set courtesy of the trio of senior Jennifer Sheedy, senior Ashley Grayson and sophomore Jessica Clemens connecting on three kills each. The Pilots grabbed the early lead at 3-1 but the exchange remained tight with the score equalizing three times before the Dons would move ahead at 7-6. The Pilots stayed close until 11-11 when the Dons would push ahead with a 12-7 run to sit comfortably at 23-18. But Portland would reply with a three-point streak that threatened an upset from a kill by Grayson and two Dons’ errors. A kill by San Francisco’s Addie Webster and a Portland error would end the set in San Francisco’s favor at 25-21.
San Francisco seemed to heat up more as the match progressed, keeping a stronghold on the lead throughout the next two sets. Portland would close in to within two points at 16-14 in the second set and 7-5 in the third but were unable to find a solution to the nationally-ranked Dons puzzle.
San Francisco, who collected the match highs in all categories except service aces, had two players in double-digits for kills. Sophomore Sarah Mandala connected on 15 kills while Alix Gombos posted 14. Gombos and teammate Carly Babin got above the net for four block assists each. Junior Haley Carroll had 13 digs, and setter Darcy Carroll dished out 31 assists. Portland’s Strahon had the match high in service aces with two.
USF had a .327 attacking percentage, while UP finished with a .186 hitting percentage..
Portland heads to California next weekend for conference play at Saint Mary's and Santa Clara. The Pilots face the Gaels on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Moraga, Calif. Portland then takes on the Broncos on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. in Santa Clara, Calif.
Live stats and a live video feed are available for both matches. Visit the volleyball schedule at portlandpilots.com.
