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PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots won the first set before Arizona State rallied for a 3-1 win in a non-conference volleyball match Thursday night at the 2008 Nike Invitational at the Chiles Center. The Pilots opened with a 25-21 win, but ASU would take the next three sets 25-20, 25-12, 25-13.
Senior Ashley Grayson and sophomore Jessica Clemens both recorded double-double’s for the Pilots, who drop to 1-3 on the season. Grayson finished with 13 kills and 10 digs, while Clemens had 10 kills and 14 digs.
Sarah Reaves connected for a match-high 20 kills for ASU (3-1).
The night started off promising as the Pilots jumped out to an early 7-3 lead. A kill by senior K.C Fox gave Portland the four-point advantage. Moments later, the lead grew to five at 13-8, courtesy of another kill by Fox.
Portland enjoyed its largest lead of the first set at 20-13. Arizona State would then rally to make the score 23-21, but UP would hang on for the win by scoring the set’s final two points. Jessica Clemens capped the win for Portland with a set-clinching kill.
The second set was a back-and-forth battle, eventually won by the Sun Devils. Neither team was able to gain much advantage, with Portland taking a 12-10 lead after a kill by Maria Clemens. ASU would then re-claim the lead before UP rallied to tie it at 15-15. From there, ASU would embark on a 10-5 run to claim the set.
The third and fourth sets belonged to Arizona State.
Junior Kaylyn Jones had a team-high 22 assists for Portland, while Maria Clemens chipped in with 12. Maria added 11 digs. UP freshmen Robyn Hall, Kati Hronek, Marissa Plummer and Allix Strahon all made their Chiles Center debuts.
ASU was solid at the net, finishing with 11 team blocks. Arizona State also had an attacking percentage of .302, while UP countered with a .133 mark.
Earlier Thursday night, Kansas State defeated UC Irvine 3-1 In the Nike Invitational opener.
The tournament continues at the Chiles Center with four matches on Friday. Kansas State and ASU start things off at 12:00 p.m. The Pilots are slated to play UC Irvine at 2:30 and the K-State Wildcats at 7:30 p.m.
