Box Score I Gallery

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Junior OH Ariel Usher recorded a season high 21 kills while tying a career high with 16 digs but the Loyola Marymount Lions edged past the Portland Pilots in five sets Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center (23-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-22, 15-12). Junior OH Kate Bostwick tied a career high with four service aces and freshman MB Bea Loper’s four blocks tied a career high as well.

The Pilots (6-9, 0-2 West Coast Conference) continued their season-long theme of producing a close match, as the teams combined for 37 ties and 10 lead changes on the day. 

Loyola Marymount (8-6, 2-0 WCC) built a 12-8 lead in the fifth set with four consecutive points. UP cut the deficit to one with three straight points off two kills from Usher and a third on a very athletic play in which Loper saved the ball beneath the net, leading to a Bostwick attack that caught LMU off guard. A timeout by the Lions ended the Pilots rally and LMU held on to capture the match.

“This was another match where we matched up and did some great things, especially with the production from Rachel Femling and Kati Hronek,” head coach Joe Houck added after the match. “There were times were Ariel was unstoppable and our defense was strong again.” 

Tied at 23 in the first set, sophomore S Monica Jordan softly placed her attack in front of the back line judge to give the Pilots the lead. With Jordan serving, Portland captured the first set after Loyola Marymount’s attack bounced off the antenna.  

Portland dominated the third set as redshirt-junior MB Rachel Femling posted five kills and had a hand in two of UP’s five team blocks. Loper, who came in to start the third set, set the tone for the defense with three blocks in the set.

Talking about the third set, Houck noted, “We came out and used Rachel on the left and brought in Bea and we just got a whole lot bigger and a whole lot stronger on the blocking. Overall, it was a nice job of executing from Rachel in a different position.

Jordan recorded her team high fifth double-double of the season (38 a, 13 d) while Usher’s afternoon (21 k, 16 d) marked the fourth time she has posted a double-double. The Pilots, who came in averaging just under one ace per set, recorded a season-high 11 aces, four of them from Bostwick.

“It was nice to have a spirited and vocal crowd,” Houck added. “A special thanks to the Tigard guitar band and the folks from Villa for creating a wonderful atmosphere today.”

Portland continues its homestand on Thursday as Santa Clara comes to The Bluff for a 7 PM match.