Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Junior outside hitter Kati Hronek paced the Pilots with 20 kills as three other Pilots posted double-digit kills totals in a five set victory (25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 26-28, 15-10) over the San Francisco Dons Thursday night at the War Memorial Gym. Sophomores Kate Bostwick (16 kills, 13 digs) and Madison Smith posted double-doubles for Portland en route to earning the win. Smith tied a career-high in assists (63) while setting a new career-high in digs (15).
Portland (10-16, 3-7 WCC) and San Francisco (3-20, 1-9 WCC) played a tight all-around match. The Pilots took an early 6-5 lead in the fifth set before taking five consecutive points to build a comfortable 11-5 advantage. San Francisco responded with a 4-1 run to narrow the gap, putting the Pilots on their heels. Portland bore down, however, as sophomore outside hitter Ariel Usher and junior middle blocker Marissa Plummer combined to put the final touches on the Pilots’ victory. The duo finished with 15 and 14 kills, respectively.
The fourth set featured the two teams trading points back and forth all match as neither team could string together long rallies to pull away. Portland and San Francisco were tied 14 times in the set, including four times after the 20th point.
The Pilots pulled away in the first after the teams opened the match with a 12-12 tie. Portland took six of eight points to build an 18-14 lead and held off a late Dons’ rally to take the first set. The Pilots also got a strong start in the third set, with Bostwick finishing a feed from Smith to give Portland a 9-3 lead. San Francisco responded emphatically with a 13-5 to take a 16-14 lead. The Dons led as late as 23-22, but errors gave the Pilots a lead before Hronek ended the set to give Portland the 2-1 advantage.
“An exceptional job by Kati and Kate offensively,” Portland head coach Joe Houck added after the match. “And the end with Rachel and Marissa to cap it off. Danielle (Dupar) and Jess (Nguyen) gave us a huge effort defensively as well, making crucial plays at the close of games.”
Portland, after losing 15 consecutive matches to San Francisco, swept the Dons this season. It was the first time since 2004 against Gonzaga that the Pilots swept a conference opponent, which was also the last season Portland posted a ten win season. The victory also gives the Pilots three conference victories and three road victories for the first time since 2002.
The Pilots travel to Santa Clara for a 1 PM match on Saturday against the Broncos.
