Box Score Box Score
IOWA CITY, IA. --- The Portland Pilots were stopped by Iowa on Friday night, losing in straight sets to the tournament host Hawkeyes at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa won 25-14, 25-15, 25-14, in this first meeting between the Pilots (4-9) and the Hawkeyes (6-4).
Iowa, playing in front of a home crowd of 751, led the first set right from the get-go, with the Pilots sneaking back within two points at 13-11. The Hawkeyes would go on a five-point streak to comfortably win the first set.
The second set would start off much like the first with Iowa launching to a 5-1 lead. After a Portland timeout, the team closed the score to 7-4. But the Hawkeyes were relentless on the attack and would continue their lead to 20-11 and then close out the set 25-15.
Iowa would control the third set with several multi-point streaks, including a five-pointer to finish off the match in straight sets.
Senior Jennifer Sheedy led the Pilot attack during all three sets with eight kills total. Freshman Marissa Plummer contributed with five for the match. On defense, senior Ashley Grayson posted a team-high seven digs for the Pilots, while adding two kills. Junior setter Kaylyn Jones dished 16 assists and also finished with six digs. Hawkeye Catherine Smale led both teams with 10 kills.
Portland has an early start on Saturday as the Pilots meet Tulsa at 8 a.m. before finishing the tourney later that day against DePaul at 2:30 p.m. at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Live statistics will be available for both matches at the Hawkeye Challenge courtesy of www.hawkeyesports.com.
