Box Score
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Portland Pilots volleyball team was swept by an undefeated No. 17 Kentucky Saturday afternoon at the Ahearn Field House to conclude the Kansas State Invite. The Wildcats captured the win by scores of 25-22, 25-12 and 25-17.
Senior Maria Clemens posted a shared match-high nine kills and added four digs. Sister junior Jessica Clemens registered seven kills and also six digs. Freshman Ariel Usher recorded four kills, while senior Shelley Sievers had three kills and two blocks.
Junior liberos Danielle Dupar and Jessica Baty each notched seven digs.
Portland concludes the weekend at 2-9 overall, while Kentucky remains undefeated at 9-0.
The first set was a back and forth affair that saw 12 tie scores and five lead changes. Trailing 9-10, UP went on a five point run powered by a kill from Sievers and two from Maria Clemens, to claim the lead at 14-10. The Pilots extended their advantage to five at 18-13 after a flurry of kills including one from Marissa Plummer and another two from Maria Clemens. UK replied with a five point streak of its own to move ahead at 19-18. The Pilots rallied to tie it up again at 22-22 before Kentucky would score three consecutive points, closing out the set win 25-22.
UK leapt out to an early 5-1 lead in the second set. A sharp Kentucky attack, hitting .600 for the set, propelled the Wildcats to a ten point lead at 19-9 and on to the set victory at 25-12.
The Pilots quickly earned a 3-0 advantage in the third set thanks to kills from Maria Clemens and Usher. UK rallied back winning three straight points to tie it up at 3-3. The two teams played to a tie at every digit until 11-11 when UK would push ahead by two points leading into a Kentucky timeout. Jessica Clemens would be the first to rip a kill coming out of the timeout but UK continued to inch ahead to 17-14. From there, the Wildcats would score seven consecutive points to bring the score to 23-14. A Maria Clemens kill at 23-16 feigned a Portland comeback and the Wildcats would seal the match win.
Kentucky was led by Sarah Mendoza and Becky Pavan who each had nine kills. BriAnne Sauer finished with a match-high 12 digs.
Portland next travels to California for a three-match road trip against non-conference opponents Southern California, Fresno State and Cal State Northridge. UP-USC is set for Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 p.m. UP-Fresno State begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 followed later that day by UP-Cal State Northridge at 7:00 p.m.
Varney's Kansas State Invitational All-Tournament Team
MVP: Sarah Rumely, Kentucky
Sarah Mendoza, Kentucky
Blaire Hiler, Kentucky
Kristen Arthurs, Purdue
Carrie Grunell, Purdue
Kelsey Chipman, Kansas State
Maria Clemens, Portland
