Box Score Box Score
CORVALLIS, Ore. --- The University of Portland volleyball team surrendered late leads in the first and second games before falling to the Illinois State Redbirds 3-0 Saturday morning at the Corvallis Invitational. Illinois State won with scores of 29-27, 25-23 and 25-20 at Gill Coliseum.
The Pilots (1-1) led by 21-17 margins in each of the first two games of the match, but the Redbirds battled back both times and carried the momentum into a three-game sweep.
Sophomore Ariel Usher led the Pilots with 13 kills and 10 digs, while junior Marissa Plummer added 10 kills. Sophomore setter Madison Smith had 31 assists and 10 digs for Portland.
Mallory Leggett and Shannon McGlaughlin combined for 27 kills for the Redbirds (2-0).
The Pilots opened the match with a 12-7 lead after consecutive kills by Plummer and Usher. Portland maintained separation and went up 17-11 on another Usher kill, but the Redbirds would score six of seven points to take a 23-22 lead. The Pilots would fight off three game points, and had one of their own turned away, before ISU took the set on a McGlaughlin kill at 29-27.
The second game mirrored the first with Portland jumping out to a 9-2 lead following four straight service points by Plummer. The Redbirds chipped away at the deficit, but the Pilots still seemed in control after an Usher kill made it 21-17. ISU would record the final five points of the set to steal another game and control of the match.
The Redbirds led the third game from start-to-finish behind a match-high .293 hitting percentage.
Portland hit .159 for the match, compared to the Redbirds’ .233. The Pilots held a slight 52-51 edge in digs, while ISU gained a 6-4 margin in team blocks.
Portland will conclude the Corvallis Invitational on Saturday evening against Sacramento State at 5 p.m.
