Box Score
No. 19 Toreros Overcome Pilots
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Showcasing the best all-around effort in conference play this season, the Portland Pilots fell just short on Thursday night as the No. 19 San Diego Toreros escaped the Chiles Center with a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22). Ariel Usher and Autumn Wedan each recorded 10 kills while hitting better than .400 as Jessica Nguyen tied a career-high with 15 digs.
Portland (6-22, 0-14 WCC) got stronger as the match unfolded with contributions from every player. Sophomore middle blocker Bea Loper continued her solid play with five kills on a .571 clip in the first set alone.
Three seniors then took control of the second set against San Diego (19-5, 11-3 WCC) with Usher tallying four kills and three blocks to aid Nguyen’s six digs and Rachel Femlings three blocks. Femling (9) and Loper (6) anchored the Pilots defense with a combined 15 blocks as Nguyen scooped up San Diego’s attacks that made it past the duo.
It is the second straight match that Nguyen has recorded 15 digs.
Usher was also active in the block department, registering five blocks of her own, adding a team-high 10 kills on the night. Wedan matched Usher’s kill total, contributing three blocks in just three sets played.
Wedan recorded three kills on just five swings in the fourth set, but it was Christina Harris that led the attack. The junior outside hitter from Los Alamitos, Calif., attempted six attacks with four kills in the set. Portland hit a team-best .345 in the fourth set before the Toreros held on for the victory.
The Pilots outblocked the Toreros 15-to-9 on the night. Portland also hit .240 for the match against a Toreros defense that had held opponents to a .178 clip on the season entering the match.
Portland wraps up the home portion of the 2012 season on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against the Saint Mary’s Gaels. Seniors Kate Bostwick, Rachel Femling, Jessica Nguyen, and Ariel Usher will be recognized prior to the match as they play in the Palace on The Bluff one last time.
