Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. --- Junior Kati Hronek and sophomore Ariel Usher combined for 35 kills as the Portland Pilots opened the Aggie Invitational with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-17) victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack Friday evening at The Pavilion.
Portland (6-6) hit .272 for the match, led by a career-high 19 kills from Hronek on a .517 attacking percentage. Usher took over for the Pilots in the fourth set, notching nine of her 16 kills on a .615 attacking percentage.
Nevada (6-6) strung together runs in the first set with six kills from Erin Garvey and five from Kylie Harrington. Harrington finished the match with 16 kills but the Pilots hit a combined .363 in the final three sets.
“We got a huge effort from Hronek. She wreaked havoc all over the court,” coach Joe Houck said afterwards. “When we get good offensive performances from Marissa (Plummer), Ariel, and Kati, we are a good squad.”
Plummer, a 6-2 junior middle blocker, notched nine kills and recorded four blocks to give her a team-high 33 on the season. Sophomore setter Madison Smith contributed 43 assists and senior Danielle Dupar added 26 digs. Dupar now has 1,199 career digs, leaving her 11 shy of Carlie Price for the six spot on the Pilots’ career all-time list. Portland's lone senior also notched a career high four service aces.
Portland plays a double header on Saturday. The Pilots play Cal Poly (8-3) at 2 PM and then play UC Davis (5-4), the tournament host, at 7 PM. Cal Poly defeated Oregon State in five sets earlier Friday afternoon while UC Davis played the late match.
