Box Score Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Juniors Kati Hronek and Marissa Plummer recorded 10 kills each for the Pilots but the No. 24 San Diego Toreros prevailed with a sweep (25-15, 25-20, 25-23) of the Portland Pilots Saturday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Plummer added a game-high four blocks for the Pilots as Ali Troost posted a double-double for the Toreros with 14 kills and 10 digs.
The Toreros (11-4, 2-0 WCC) hit .351 as a team and had three players record double digit kill totals and three with double digit digs totals. Portland (7-11, 0-2 WCC) hit .217 as a team, led by Hronek’s .474 attacking percentage.
San Diego jumped out to a 10-3 lead in each of the first two sets, easily pulling away with the first but the Pilots fought back in the second. Trailing 14-5 in the second, Portland took six of seven points to trim the margin to 15-11. San Diego regained their momentum, however, to take the second set and a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Portland came out strong in the third set, taking an 8-3 lead thanks to the combination of Hronek and Plummer but the Toreros proved why they are one of the top teams in the nation, turning to Ashton Basch to take an 11-10 advantage. The two teams traded points for much of the remainder of the set, with the Pilots leading late, 23-22. Troost, a 2009 Second Team All-American, rallied the Toreros to finish the sweep.
Sophomore setter Madison Smith recorded 34 assists for the Pilots while senior libero Danielle Dupar recorded 19 digs.
Portland now returns to the Chiles Center to continue WCC play. The Pilots welcome the Santa Clara Broncos (9-7, 0-2 WCC) for a 7 PM affair on Thursday before hosting the San Francisco Dons (2-12, 0-2 WCC) on Saturday afternoon at 1 PM.
