//Complete release attached.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The University of Portland’s volleyball team (4-20, 1-11 WCC) will play its final two home matches of 2005 in the friendly confines of the Chiles Center this weekend, closing out its home schedule against Loyola Marymount (18-8, 6-6 WCC) and Pepperdine (15-11, 8-4 WCC).

The Pilots will honor five players as part of Senior Night festivities on Saturday, including Lauren Karpstein, Monique Kettler, Liz Lord, Sheena Surplus, and Sara Vercruyssen. Lord, Surplus, and Vercruyssen will all be making their final appearances in Pilot uniforms at the Chiles Center. Kettler was injured with an ACL injury earlier this season and almost certainly will not see the court, while Karpstein has spent this season as a student assistant coach after retiring due to a leg injury.

"It’s a bittersweet weekend for me," Portland head coach Doug Sparks said. "I’ve really enjoyed coaching this group of girls and they have been very loyal and have given the program a lot in return."

Loyola Marymount enters the game in sole possession of fifth place in the West Coast Conference. They lead the WCC and ranks 18th in the NCAA in digs per game (18.61). No other WCC school averages over 16 digs per game.

Pepperdine is currently in a three-way knot for second place in the WCC, sporting an 8-4 conference record along with Saint Mary’s and San Diego. The Waves are ranked second in the WCC and 14th in the NCAA with an average of 3.2 blocks per game.

The Pilots will continue with the TEARS program this weekend. The team will be collecting monetary donations that will help complete the kitchen of the Dominican school. More information is available at the Chiles Center during the matches, which are scheduled for Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 p.m.