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MORAGA, Calif. – The Portland Pilots women’s volleyball team was unable to overcome a hard-hitting Saint Mary’s attack on Thursday night, losing a three-set battle at the McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, Calif. Senior Ashley Grayson finished with 10 kills and sophomore Jessica Clemens had a match high 14 digs yet Portland would fall 25-17, 25-15, 25-13.
The result, which was identical to the last meeting between the two teams on Oct. 11 in Portland, Ore., brings the Pilots to 6-20 overall and 0-10 in the WCC, while SMC improves to 17-6 and 7-3 in the conference.
Portland was led by Grayson who also added four digs to her 10 kills. Jessica Clemens contributed eight kills to her 14 digs, while senior K.C. Fox finished with six kills and two digs.
The Gaels had three players in double-digits in kills with Lauren Jaeckel and Shannon Lowell, the reigning WCC Player of the Week, finishing with the match high of 14 apiece and an impressive .650 and .500 hitting percentage respectively. Chanteal Satele had 10 kills and setter Kapua Kamana’o dished out a match high 45 assists.
Despite hitting a solid .346 in the first set, it was not enough for Portland to fend off a stinging SMC attack which hit .429 itself on its way to a 25-17 set victory. An early flash from Portland of two kills by Grayson, one by Jessica Clemens and a service ace by sophomore Danielle Dupar kept the score tight at 4-4. But the Gaels would dart ahead on several streaks, the largest being a four-point’er that would be snapped by a kill from Jessica Clemens.
In the second set the Pilots and the Gaels were given the same number of hitting attempts (31) but it would be Saint Mary’s that would capitalize connecting on 17 to UP’s nine. The score would be tied up on six occasions but after 7-7 there was no looking back for the Gaels.
Portland saw the lead for the first time in the match in the third frame. But the Gaels would quickly regain it and close out the match behind the strength of Jaeckel’s five kills and Lowell’s four, combined with another five Gaels players contributing at least one kill. The Clemens’ sisters, sophomore Jessica and junior Maria, made efforts to cut into the Gaels attack, which hit .533 that set, posting three digs apiece. After a service ace by Grayson, SMC's Jaeckel would smash home a kill to finish the match.
The Pilots continue their California road trip meeting the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday Nov. 8. The match is set to go at 1:00 p.m at the Leavey Center.
