Box Score Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots were defeated by the 15th-ranked San Diego Toreros at home in conference play at the Chiles Center with scores of 25-21, 25-17, 25-21.
Portland’s record sits at 6-18/0-8 WCC (.250), while USD improves to 17-3/7-1 WCC (.850).
The Pilots had two players in double digits in kills, with senior Ashley Grayson sharing the match high of 12 kills with sophomore Jessica Clemens. Sophomore Danielle Dupar tied for match high in digs with seven, along with Toreros Amy DeGroot and Andrea Csaszi.
Although there would be eight lead changes during the first set, it began with the Torero’s taking off to a 9-5 lead. Coach Houck would call a timeout that would quickly shift the momentum, seeing the Pilots catch up to within one point at 11-12. The score would close to a tie at 15-15 thanks to two kills by Jessica Clemens, a kill by senior K.C. Fox and one from Grayson. But San Diego would go on a damaging 5-2 run bringing the score to 20-17. The Pilots hung on with freshman Marissa Plummer getting up for a block solo and a service ace, and Jessica Clemens picking up a kill. With the score all knotted up at 20-20, USD would only let UP score one more point as it closed the set with a 5-1 run.
Once again in the second set, USD secured the early lead forcing Portland to play catch-up from the get-go. Despite coming to within three-points at 18-15 after a Grayson service ace, USD would cruise ahead to seal the set.
The third set was similar to the first with neither team able to open up much of lead, with the score hitting even on seven occasions. But this time it was Portland who led early at 4-2. USD threatened to move ahead tying it up at 5-5 but Jessica Clemens would connect on two straight kills and Fox would serve an ace to shield the lead. Courtesy of several Pilot errors and a kill by Ashton Basch, the Toreros would trim the deficit and equalize at 8-8. The score would reach even again at 13-13 and 19-19, when USD would make a 5-1 surge to set up the match point. Portland would momentarily deny USD the victory with a kill from Sheedy, but San Diego’s DeGroot would pick up a kill to finish the match.
USD outhit UP .367 to .128. for the match which was a "Dig for the Cure" event in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Portland returns to the court on Saturday Nov. 1 against the No. 22 San Francisco. The Pilots and Dons are set to go at 12:00 p.m. at the Chiles Center.
Live stats and a live video feed are available for the match against San Francisco. Visit the volleyball schedule at portlandpilots.com.
