Box Score Box Score
Post-game Quotes Joe Houck (Audio)
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland volleyball team had a record day as it defeated South Florida in a thrilling five set match to conclude the Nike Portland Invitational at the Chiles Center. The Pilots won the match with scores of 25-16, 26-28, 25-27, 25-17 and 15-6 to provide first-year head coach Joe Houck with his first home win. The Pilots improve to a 2-5 record, while South Florida sits at 4-3.
Outside hitter Jessica Clemens scored a triple-double with 15 kills, 11 digs and 10 service aces. The 10 service aces established a new school record for a single match, breaking the previous mark of seven by Sheila Merhar (vs. Hofstra, 9-24-94). Senior Ashley Grayson matched her career high in kills with 21. Junior Kaylyn Jones shattered her career high with 51 assists and senior Jennifer Sheedy matched her career high with three solo blocks. Grayson and Clemens were both named to the Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Portland took the first set easily, staying in control from start to finish. Grayson dominated above the net with five kills. A block assist by Jessica Clemens and Sheedy brought the Pilots to set point which was put away by a big block this time from Sheedy alone.
South Florida battled back to win the second set, an exciting battle with an energized Portland team exploding out of the break. Grayson led the Pilots with eight more kills including one late to save a set point by the Bulls. They eventually dropped the set to the Bulls, 26-28, and would do the same in the third, this time by a score of 25-27.
In the fourth set the Pilots rallied back to stop the Bulls from taking the match, winning it comfortably with a score of 25-17. If the first half of the game saw Grayson on fire, Jessica Clemens kept the heat up in the second, with three service aces and five kills.
The Pilots dominated the fifth and deciding set, giving the crowd at the Chiles Center plenty of reason to stand and cheer. Jessica Clemens once again served up three service aces and Grayson came up big with four kills. Sheedy and Clemens had two kills apiece in the final set.
Freshman Marissa Plummer had a breakout performance with a season high five kills, in addition to a solo block, a block assist and three digs. Fellow freshman Allix Strahon performed well at the libero position with six digs and two service aces.
The Pilots will next head across town to take part in the Portland State Showcase beginning on Thursday against the host Vikings at 7 p.m.
Champions
Kansas State
Tournament MVP
Nataly Korobkova, Kansas State
Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team
Rita Liliom, Kansas State
Kelsey Chipman, Kansas State
Marina Mercer, Arizona State
Sarah Reaves, Arizona State
Margie Giordano, Arizona State
Devon Sutherland, UC Irvine
Marcela Gurgel, South Florida
Jessica Clemens, Portland
Ashley Grayson, Portland
