Box Score Liger Continues Hot Streak; Rodriguez Named to All-Tournament Team

Box Score
 
LOGAN, Utah --- Portland sophomore Emily Liger led the Portland Pilots in kills for the third time in four matches with 10 kills on a .421 attacking percentage, but the Pilots lost a 3-0 decision to the Utah Utes Saturday evening in the final match of the Utah State Invitational. Sophomore libero Jacky Rodriguez earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
 
Portland (1-3) put up a fight in the final two sets against the Utes, who went 4-0 in the tournament, but were unable to pull away a victory at the Smith Spectrum.
 
Senior Ariel Usher and junior Autumn Wedan combined for 17 kills, with Wedan just missing a double-double. The Klamath Falls native led the Pilots in digs for the second straight match with eight.
 
Liger enjoyed a memorable tournament off the bench for Portland. After playing in just four sets and attempting seven attacks during all of 2011, Liger exploded for 29 kills on a .415 attacking percentage during the last three matches of the four match tournament. She recorded two double-digit kill matches and leads the team in attacking percentage with the third most kills.
 
Rodriguez also strung together an impressive tournament, grabbing a slot on the All-Tournament Team. With 46 digs on the weekend, Portland’s libero earned her first career All-Tournament recognition. In addition to her defensive efforts, Rodriguez added 10 assists on the weekend.
 
The Pilots return to the Chiles Center for the Portland Nike Invitational, beginning Friday at 11:00 a.m. against Idaho State. Portland will also play Tennessee State on Friday (7:30 pm) before concluding the home opening weekend against UNLV on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.