A LOOK BACK AT 2008: First-year head coach Joe Houck inspired improved performances in the Pilots both as a team and individually. The team went 8-24 (1-13 in the West Coast Conference) showing growth from previous years. Individually, the Pilots had two All-WCC Honorable Mentions in graduating seniors Ashley Grayson and Jennifer Sheedy and a WCC All- Freshman selection in Marissa Plummer. Grayson paced the UP attack with a team-high 367 kills. Sheedy connected on 267 kills, while sophomore Jessica Clemens was imposing on both sides of play with 271 kills and 288 digs. Sophomore Danielle Dupar anchored the defense with a team-high 291 digs, while freshman Marissa Plummer had the team high in total blocks with 81. Junior setter Kaylyn Jones dished out 935 assists.
QUOTING COACH HOUCK: After his first season at the Bluff, head volleyball coach Joe Houck shared his thoughts on the 2008 campaign and the future of the program.
On the 2008 season…
“Our goal for the season was “Movin’ UP”, and we certainly took huge in strides this season in a positive direction.”
On the three graduating seniors…
“Fox, Grayson and Sheedy have left such an impact on the program over the past four years! The all-time career record book shows just how big the Grayson and Sheedy shoes are to fill. Fox was arguably the best full court player in the program over the final month of the season and was just reaching her potential when the season ended.”
On the core group returning next season…
“Our younger players made tremendous steps in becoming ready to compete in the WCC, and the fruits of our efforts are just starting to blossom.”
On the team culture…
“Especially encouraging was the way the team stayed focused and worked through the finish of the season! We never lost sight of the goal of becoming better every day in practice.”
On the off-season…
“The team’s solid efforts during practice this season enabled us to snap the long WCC losing streak, and defeat a tough Nevada squad in the Banker’s Classic in Stockton over Thanksgiving weekend. We really will have a fresh start to the off-season preparations as a reward!”
On what’s next…
“We are all tremendously excited about the 2009 recruiting class. We are well positioned to begin a new tradition with this core group and the additions we will make to the roster in the future!”
WCC ALL-CONFERENCE RECOGNITION: The Pilots received postseason attention with seniors Ashley Grayson and Jennifer Sheedy received All-WCC Honorable Mentions and Marissa Plummer grabbed a WCC All- Freshman selection. Grayson and Sheedy are the 17th and 18th Pilots all-time to receive all-conference accolades. Plummer is just the seventh Pilot to earn a freshman award and the first since Cathy Cook in 1997.
1,000-KILL CLUB: Seniors Jennifer Sheedy and Ashley Grayson became just the eighth and ninth Portland players all-time to join the 1,000-kill club. Grayson connected on 367 kills during her senior season to finish with the eighth most career kills in UP volleyball history at 1,041. Sheedy concluded her career as a Pilot with an all-time ninth best with 1,019 career kills.
THE CAREER CHARTS: In addition to making their entry into the 1,000-kill club, seniors Jennifer Sheedy and Ashley Grayson scaled the all-time career charts this season. Grayson also finished ninth in all-time attacking percentage with .229, seventh in total blocks with 278, fifth in block assists with 231 and tied for fifth in matches played with 114.
Meanwhile, Sheedy concluded her career as a Pilot finishing ninth all-time in career attempts with 2601, sixth in block assists with 219, sixth in total blocks with 280, fifth in attacking percentage with .258 and tied for fifth in matches played with 114.
Danielle Dupar ended 2008 sitting at fifth in digs per set with 3.10, while freshman Marissa Plummer sits at ninth in blocks per set with .79.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The Pilots responded well to first-year coach Houck, with 11 out of 14 players posting a total of 55 career highs during the 2008 campaign.
TOURNEY TALLY: Senior K.C. Fox was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the 30th Annual Pacific Community Bankers Classic. Ashley Grayson and Jessica Clemens were named to the All-Tournament Team at Portland’s Nike Invitational.
LOOKING AHEAD: Kate Bostwick, Madison Smith and Ariel Usher make up the 2009 recruiting class who will bolster the Pilots' roster next fall.
Bostwick (5-9, Pendleton, Ore.), an outside hitter from Pendleton High, was an Oregon 5A First Team All-State selection as a junior and Intermountain Conference Volleyball Player of the Year her senior year.
Smith (5-10, Palos Verdes, Calif.), a setter from Palos Verdes High School, was co-MVP of the Division IAA Bay League during her senior year.
Usher (6-1, Forest Grove, Ore.), a Glencoe High School middle blocker, was a first team All-State Selection as a junior and was named the Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC) Volleyball Player of the Year during both her junior and senior seasons.