The Pilots finished the West Coast Conference regular-season in seventh place. Portland ended its season with a 12-17 (.414) overall record and a 2-12 (.123) conference mark. The 12-17 (.414) overall record comprises the 12th-best win-loss record in Portland volleyball history. Since becoming an NCAA Division I sport in 1986, Portland’s 12-17 (.414) overall record in 2004 is the sixth-best in school history. Portland’s 9-3 start in non-conference play was the third-best start since 1992. The Pilots posted a 5-6 (.455) home record, 2-10 (.167) away record and a 5-1 (.833) neutral site record in 2004.
Head Coach Doug Sparks is just the sixth head coach in school history. In five seasons, Sparks has a 50-92 (.352) career overall record and a 11-59 (.157) career WCC record. He has the fourth-best winning percentage in school history and the fourth-best win percentage since volleyball became an NCAA Division I sport in 1986. He recorded his 50th career victory with a 3-2 (28-30, 30-23, 24-30, 30-23, 15-12) win over Portland State on Nov. 26 at the Oregon State Challenge in Corvallis, Ore.
Portland had one player selected as a member of the 2004 all-West Coast Conference Volleyball Team. Junior Sara Vercruyssen, for a third-consecutive year, was named an honorable-mention pick.
Junior Monique Kettler and sophomore Murphy McClenahan were named to the 2004 West Coast Conference Fall All-Academic team.
Several Pilots have made their way into Portland’s record books this past season. The 2004 squad had three players among Portland’s all-time top 10 statistical leaders. Junior Sheena Surplus is currently third all-time for assists with 3,461 assists thus far. With one season left, she could become the all-time leader. The current record of 4,187 assists is held by Annie Blackburn (1993-96). Monique Kettler is currently seventh in block assists (191) and total blocks (247). Sara Vercruyssen is currently ninth with a .194 career hitting percentage and seventh in kills (1,011).
Sheena Surplus, hit the 3,000 assist mark on Friday, Oct. 8, 2004 in Portland’s match vs. San Francisco. To date, there are only three other volleyball players in Pilot history to hit this milestone. Surplus has 3,461 career assists and is third all-time in the Pilot record books.
Sara Vercruyssen’s stat line for the past three seasons has provided the Pilots with the needed consistency to play in one of the top five conferences in the USA. For her career, she has posted 1,011 kills (seventh all-time), 787 digs, 53 service aces, 103 total blocks and a .194 hitting percentage (ninth all-time), while tallying career bests of 29 kills (vs. Gonzaga, 10-25-03) and 24 digs (@ Gonzaga, 10-22-04). Vercruyssen recorded double-figure kills in all but six matches, while posting 16 double-doubles. She has had five-straight double-doubles to close out WCC play. Vercruyssen recorded her 1,000th career kill on Nov. 26, 2004 in Portland’s 3-2 win over Portland State at the Oregon State Challenge in Corvallis, Ore. She became just the seventh player in Pilot history to record 1,000 or more kills for her career.
Senior Michelle Oakland’s .280 hitting percentage ranked her 10th in the WCC, as she was also 10th in kills (3.24) and 11th in points (3.79). Oakland was second on the team in blocks (0.74) and was named the 2004 Nike Portland Invitational MVP.
For 2004, the University of Portland volleyball team placed third in two tournaments (Pittsburgh Invitational and 10th annual Holiday Inn Classic, hosted by Montana State) and first in its own Nike Portland Invitational.
Senior Michelle Oakland was named the 2004 Nike Portland Invitational Tournament MVP, while setter Sheena Surplus garnered all-tourney honors. Surplus also became a member of the 2004 Holiday Inn Classic all-tourney team, while fellow teammate Liz Lord garnered 2004 Pittsburgh Invitational all-tourney honors.
Portland ended the 2004 season with an 0-10 (.000) record against teams that were ranked or received votes in the Top-25 or teams that made the NCAA Tournament. The Pilots had its hands full during WCC play as four teams made the 2004 NCAA Tournament, with three being ranked or receiving votes throughout the season. Portland’s 2004 schedule featured 10 matches against six teams (Pittsburgh, Idaho, San Diego, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary’s) that were ranked or received votes in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches’ poll and competed in the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Portland ranked outside the top 30 in the nation in home match attendance this season. In 11 matches at home, the Pilots brought in 2,186 fans, an average of 199 fans per match. Portland’s win over cross-town rival Portland State on Sept. 16, at the Chiles Center marked the 2004 single-season highest home attendance, with 304 fans.
The University of Portland tracked individual points per game in 2004. Points are awarded based on the following formula: kills + aces + solo blocks + 1/2-assist blocks. Portland has recorded 1769.0 points in 2004. On the year, Sara Vercruyssen led the team with 396.0 points, followed by Michelle Oakland with 371.0, Monique Kettler with 263.5, Liz Lord with 247.5, Nicole Thometz with 206.0, Kelly Whitehouse with 164.5, Sheena Surplus with 72.5, Murphy McClenahan with 15.0, Kara Pein with 14.5, Dana LaGassa with 10.0 and Laura Pappas with 8.5.
As a team, Portland wrapped up the 2004 season second in the WCC in digs (18.12), fifth in hitting percentage (.193) and seventh in opponent hitting percentage (.230), assists (13.85), match won-loss percentage (.414), service aces (1.00) and kills (14.86). Portland finished eighth in blocks (1.65). Individually, five players ranked among the top 20 in the WCC statistical leaders. Michelle Oakland was 10th in hitting percentage (.280) and 11th in kills (3.24) and points (3.79), while Sheena Surplus was fourth in assists (12.39). Sara Vercruyssen finished second in kills (4.09), fifth in points (4.35) and 10th in digs (3.59), while Murphy McClenahan was third in digs (4.91) and Liz Lord finished 15th in service aces (0.24).
After another great volleyball regular season in West Coast Conference, the NCAA selection committee rewarded the league with four bids to the NCAA tournament. Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, San Diego and Saint Mary’s represented the West Coast Conference in the postseason. Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount lost in the first round, while No. 9 seeded San Diego and No. 10 seeded Saint Mary’s made it to the NCAA “Sweet 16.”
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF PILOT VOLLEYBALL: Portland’s 25 year history dates back to 1979 when the Pilots went 19-25 (.432) overall and setter/hitter Maureen Clifford was named the team’s MVP. Portland has come a long way since then, becoming a member of the NCAA in 1986 and a member of the West Coast Conference in 1987. The volleyball program has seen six different coaches at the net, from the days of former coach Moe O’Connor to present day’s Doug Sparks. In a span of 25 years, the Portland volleyball program has compiled a 379-478 (.442) overall record.
The Pilot volleyball program honored all volleyball alums and their families in a special celebration on November 20th, 2004. UP honored its first ever Silver Anniversary Volleyball Team in conjunction with Portland’s match vs. Gonzaga on Nov. 20!
WCC RPI IN TOP 10: The WCC finished the 2004 slate with a Top 10 RPI, coming in sixth out of 32 conferences. The WCC was just behind the Pac-10, who boasts reigning national champion Stanford, the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and the Big 12, but was ahead of powerhouse conferences like the Big West, the Big East and the WAC. Portland posted an RPI of 186 last season.
PILOTS AMONG CAREER CHARTS: Junior Sheena Surplus has already made her way into the Pilot career books after compiling 3,461 assists through her junior year. Surplus is currently third all-time, and with one season left, could become the all-time leader. The current record of 4,187 assists is held by Annie Blackburn (1993-96). Monique Kettler is currently seventh in block assists (191) and total blocks (247). Sara Vercruyssen is currently fifth in kills (1,011) and tied for ninth (with former Pilot Christy Martin, 1986-89) with a .194 career hitting percentage. Vercruyssen is just the seventh player in Pilot volleyball history to crack 1,000 or more kills.
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION: Eight out of the 15 players on Portland’s 2004 squad were from California. This past season, Portland’s “Golden State” players produced over 75 percent of Portland’s kills, 84 percent in digs, 84 percent in service aces, 32 percent in total blocks and 75 percent in points.
HEAD COACH DOUG SPARKS: Entering his sixth season, Doug Sparks continues his plans for success within the Portland volleyball program.
Sparks ability to develop skills has resulted in 14 all-West Coast Conference players (including the first-ever first-team pick, Heather Denison), one WCC all-Freshman team member, one WCC Defensive Specialist of the Year, and 15 WCC All-Academic Team selections.
Among his peers in the WCC, Sparks ranks in at No. 18 all time and No. 22 in conference matches.
Through five seasons, Sparks posts a 50-92 (.352) career record and an 11-59 (.157) WCC record. He recorded his 50th career victory with a 3-2 (28-30, 30-23, 24-30, 30-23, 15-12) win over Portland State on Nov. 26 at the Oregon State Challenge in Corvallis, Ore.
PILOTS CLAIM 200 DIVISION I WINS: The Portland volleyball program hit another milestone in 2004 as they claimed their 200th NCAA Division I win with a 3-0 sweep of Dartmouth College on Sept. 10, 2004. Portland currently has 210-365 (.365) division I overall record to date and a 68-184 (.270) division I conference record.
