Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Fresh off her first career All-Tournament Team recognition, junior outside hitter Kate Bostwick picked up where she left off last weekend, recording 12 kills and 20 digs as the Pilots defeated the Butler Bulldogs (20-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-18) in the opening match of the 2011 Portland Nike Invitational at the Chiles Center. Redshirt-junior Rachel Femling added eight blocks and six kills for the Pilots.

After Butler (0-4) took the first set, the Pilots (2-2) came out firing in the second. Portland jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the second set and then maintained a comfortable lead the rest of set, leading by as much as 11 at one point. The Pilots’ ability to prevent Bulldog rallies played a pivotal role in the match. Following a sideout percentage of 51% in the first set, Portland regained the serve 66% of the time in each of the remaining sets.

“Kate Bostwick had an exceptionally good night and Jacqueline Rodriguez and Katie Mardesich did an outstanding job as our liberos,” head coach Joe Houck said after the match. “Monica Jordan did an outstanding job moving the ball around and finding hitters at the appropriate times and it was cool to see Sam Moore step in for her first action on The Bluff and she is another weapon in our arsenal for the rest of the season.”

“I was really proud of the way we raised our sideout percentages and were strong and consistent siding out after the first set,” Houck noted.

The third set opened up close as the Pilots lead 9-7. Capitalizing on Butler’s errors, Portland used a 5-2 run to open up a 14-9 lead. Butler responded with four straight points to come within one when senior outside hitter Kati Hronek picked up one of her match-high 13 kills to shift the momentum back to the Pilots, who would hold on to take the set and 2-1 lead in the match.

Bostwick, who recorded 35 kills and 26 digs in last weekend’s Aztec Invitational, continued to cause opponents problems on offense and defense. She has already had three double digit kill matches this season, hitting above .370 in each and now has two double digit dig matches.

Three other Pilots recorded 10 or more digs with freshmen Jacqueline Rodriguez (13) and Katie Mardesich (13) and junior outside hitter Ariel Usher (12) each reaching the mark.

Portland hit 0.195 for the match, holding Butler to 0.115. Kelly Kyle recorded a double-double for Butler with 13 kills and 15 digs, while Maureen Bamiro had 12 kills on a 0.360 hitting percentage with five blocks.

“We were a little jittery for the first home match but settled into a nice rhythm after the first set,” Houck added. Our hitting percentages were the result of comfort and judgment in the first, not ball handling. Our ball handlers settled in and did a good job of slowing the game down between their touches. Their decision making improved and it was demonstrated by the increase in our hitting percentages.”

The Pilots play their second match of the Nike Invitational Thursday night against Texas A&M (3-0). Portland and the Aggies will start at 7:00 p.m. in the Chiles Center.