SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- The University of Portland volleyball team dropped a tough three game match to San Francisco Saturday afternoon, struggling to a 30-18, 30-13, 30-26 loss. Portland falls to 8-12 (1-6 WCC) while San Francisco improves to 19-5 (3-4 WCC).

Portland was unable to keep up with the hot-hitting Dons, who recorded 56 kills and a .388 attack percentage for the match.  Portland, meanwhile, finished with 35 kills and a .125 percentage.

Junior Kristin Hasselberg of San Francisco dominated the match, peppering the Pilots with 18 kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Dons junior Brynn Maurer recorded a double-double with 12 kills and ten digs while posting an incredible .600 attack percentage and freshman Haley Carroll got things done on the defensive end, notching 29 digs.

For the Pilots, sophomore Ashley Grayson (pictured) led the Pilot attack with 10 kills and an excellent .381 hitting percentage. Sophomore Jenn Sheedy pitched in nine kills and junior Nicole Thometz had seven kills. Senior Murphy McClenahan recorded 15 digs to pace the Pilot defense.

Portland kept things close in game one, trailing only by one point at 8-7 before the Dons surged to a 21-11 advantage that the Pilots were unable to recover from as San Francisco cruised to the 30-18 win.

There was no stopping San Francisco in game two as the Dons exploded out of the gate to build an 18-3 lead. Portland only managed 13 points in the game, hitting for a -.079 percentage in the game compared to San Francisco’s .444.

Portland regrouped at half time and nearly took game three, establishing a late 23-21 lead. But San Francisco then rallied to score eight consecutive points to put the game on the brink at 29-23. The Pilots tallied three straight points to bring the game within three points, but Maurer ended the match with her game-high ninth kill.

Portland continues WCC action at the Chiles Center next week, facing two southern California rivals. The Pilots meet Pepperdine on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Loyola Marymount on Oct. 28 in a Saturday matinee at 1:00 p.m.