Box Score Box Score
IOWA CITY, IA. --- The Portland Pilots defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21) Saturday afternoon in their final match at the Hawkeye Challenge at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The result moves Portland to a 5-10 record, while DePaul now sits at 1-10.
As a team, Portland hit .317 for the match, led by sophomore Jessica Clemens and senior Ashley Grayson both hitting .433. Clemens connected on 16 kills in 30 attempts, and three errors. Grayson had 15 kills in 30 attempts, with just two errors. DePaul junior Sarah Cullen also finished with 16 kills, tying Jessica Clemens for the match high.
Jessica Clemens also posted 13 digs, giving her a double-double, and sent over three service aces, as well as five blocks, three of them solo rejections.
Defensively the Pilots held the Blue Demons to just a .217 hitting percentage. Sophomore libero Danielle Dupar led both teams with 18 digs. Freshman Marissa Plummer got above the net for four block assists.
In the first set, the Pilots earned the lead early at 2-1, and never let up. At 12-5 Portland enjoyed their largest lead and finished the set comfortably.
The second set saw the two teams exchange lead several times until 22-22, when DePaul would claim the set thanks in part to an attacking spree by Sarah Cullen. Cullen connected on five of her 16 total kills in DePaul’s last six points of the set.
Portland bounced back in the third set with great resolve, cruising to a comfortable 25-14 win.
In the fourth set, Portland piloted to a 9-3 lead, before DePaul would rally back to equalize at 13-13. But the Pilots held off every last Blue Demon effort, and closed out the set for the win.
Earlier on Saturday, in their second match of the Hawkeye Challenge, the Pilots were defeated by Tulsa in a closely contested 3-1 match.
Portland finishes the Hawkeye Challenge tournament with a record of 1-2 at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Freshman middle blocker Marissa Plummer landed on the All-Tournament Team.
The Pilots have next weekend to rest before returning to action on Thursday, October 2 as they travel to West Coast Conference opponent San Francisco for the Pilots’ first West Coast Conference match of the 2008 season. The start of the match is set for 7:00 p.m.
All-Tournament Team
MVP: Catherine Smale, Iowa
Marissa Plummer, Portland
Aimee Huffman, Iowa
Megan Schipper, Iowa
Beth Hodge, Tulsa
Julia Kenealy, Tulsa
Sarah Cullen, DePaul
Best Libero: Emily Hiza, Iowa
