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SPOKANE, Wash. --- Jennifer Sheedy smashed home her thousandth career kill as the University of Portland Pilots claimed their first conference win in the final regular season match of the year 3-1 (25-18, 25-16, 18-25, 25-23) against Gonzaga at the Martin Center.
Sheedy etched her name in UP’s history books by connecting on her thousandth kill, and what would be her last kill of the match, in the third set. Sheedy joins senior Ashley Grayson as the second Pilot in a week and just the ninth player all-time to join the 1,000-kill club. Grayson eclipsed the mark against LMU on Nov. 15.
Junior setter Kaylyn Jones dished out a season-high 53 assists. Her performance broke the mark of 51 she had set earlier this season against Portland State (9/11/08) and South Florida (9/06/08).
Freshman Marissa Plummer dominated above the net posting a match-high seven total blocks. The effort tied the team's season high previously set by Sheedy against South Florida (9/06/08).
Portland improves to 7-23 overall and 1-13 in the WCC, while Gonzaga now sits at 10-21 and 3-11.
Portland had three players record double-digits in kills. Sophomore Jessica Clemens finished with 16 kills and nine digs. Senior K.C. Fox had 14 kills, nine digs and four blocks, while Grayson connected on 13 kills, nine blocks and four digs. Sophomore Danielle Dupar led UP in digs with 10.
The match kicked off as a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to take a lead and the score remaining tight at 13-13. Then, Dupar would blaze over a service ace that sparked a Portland push to move ahead. A six-point streak powered by four kills from Sheedy and two from Clemens wrapped up the set for the Pilots.
In the second set, Portland would gain momentum early thanks to a four-point-streak putting the Pilots at 7-3. Portland would enjoy their largest lead of the set at 18-11, but Gonzaga would rally back to within three at 20-17. There, Portland would close out the set with a five-point streak culminating with a service ace from Jones.
In the third set, Gonzaga leapt out to a 4-0 lead that threatened to ruin a Portland sweep. The Bulldogs were relentless on the attack making a 10-8 edge into a 19-11 lead. The Pilots were unable to make up the difference and Gonzaga would claim the set.
The Pilots, looking for their first WCC win, had monopoly of the lead from 3-2 in the fourth and final set. Although the score would be tied up seven times Portland would not relinquish the lead. At 19-19 Fox would connect on three kills and Jessica Clemens would add two to muscle Portland to the match victory.
UP outhit GU .271 to .184, connecting on 13 more kills and committing one less attacking error.
Portland next plays in the Pacific Community Bankers Classic in Stockton, Calif. on Nov. 28-29. The Pilots are set to face Pacific on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Alex G. Spanos Center.
Live stats and audio are available for the match against Pacific. Visit the volleyball schedule at portlandpilots.com.
