Complete Release

Nike Portland Invitational
Portland Pilots (1-3) • Idaho State Bengals (1-2) • Tennessee State Tigers (3-1) • UNLV Rebels (2-1)
Dates: Friday August 31 – Saturday September 1, 2012
Location: Portland, Ore.
Arena: Chiles Center (4,852)
FREE Live Stats (All Matches): portlandpilots.com
FREE Live Video (UP Matches): portlandpilots.com
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (1-3) 
vs. Idaho State Bengals (1-2)
Date: Friday, August 31, 2012
Start: 11:00 a.m.
Overall Series:  0-4
Here: 0-0
There: 0-2
Neutral: 0-2
Last: @Idaho State 3, Portland 0 (2004)
 
PORTLAND PILOTS (1-3) 
vs. Tennessee State Tigers (3-1)
Date: Friday, August 31, 2012
Start: 7:30 p.m.
Overall Series:  First Meeting

PORTLAND PILOTS (1-3) 
vs. UNLV Rebels (2-1)
Date: Saturday, September 1, 2012
Start: 11:00 a.m.
Overall Series:  First Meeting

Quick Hits...
• Portland returns to The Bluff for the first three home matches of the season by hosting the Nike Portland Invitational.
• Idaho State (1-2), Tennessee State (3-1), and UNLV (2-1) compose the rest of the tournament field as the Chiles Center hosts six matches in the span of two days.
• Portland opens the tournament with a double header on Friday, playing Idaho State at 11:00 a.m. and Tennessee State at 7:30 p.m. The tournament concludes Saturday evening with the Pilots playing UNLV at 7:30 p.m.
• Sophomore L Jacky Rodriguez played her way onto the Utah State Tournament All-Tournament team last weekend, racking up 46 digs and 10 assists in the four match tournament.
•Sophomore OH Emily Liger was the most effective attacker for the Pilots, tallying 29 kills on a .415 attack percentage.
 
Off the Bench, Into the Campfire
• Sophomore OH Emily Liger provided an offensive spark for the Pilots during the Utah State Tournament, posting 29 kills on a .415 attacking percentage over the final three matches.
• A native of Everett, Wash., Liger attempted just seven attacks as a freshman in 2011.
• After picking up her first career kill during the second set of the Weber State match, she wasted no time recording nine more for her first career double-digit kill match.
• Liger has had the most or tied for the most kills on the team in each of the three matches she has recorded a kill.
 
Defensive Prowess
• Sophomore L Jacqueline Rodriguez bounced back from a shortened 2011 season with authority, earning a spot on her first career All-Tournament Team during the Utah State Tournament.
• Rodriguez averaged 3.10 digs per set in 2011 (sixth best career average in UP history) before averaging 3.54 during the Utah State Tournament for a total of 46 digs.
• In addition to her defensive efforts, Rodriguez contributed 10 assists on the offensive side of the ball.
 
Climbing UP
• Senior OH Ariel Usher and senior MB Rachel Femling have already been busy this season rewriting the UP career record books.
• Usher has climbed two places in kills (832), passing former teammates Marissa Plummer (813) and Jessica Clemens (821).
• With 19 kills this weekend, she could jump up three more spaces to No. 13, surpassing Christy Martin (833), Bridget DeChant (843), and Staci Asher (850).
• Usher also ranks in the top 20 in blocks (17th; 190), block assists (11th; 179), and points (20th; 962.5).
• A defensive stalwart, Femling finds herself passing more and more former Pilots on the all-time blocks list.
• Leading the team this year with 13 blocks, she sits 13th on the block assist leader board (161) and 19th on the total blocks chart (177).
 
VBG Blog
• The VBG Girls are rotating blog posts during the 2012 season, allowing fans a glimpse into life as a Portland Pilot volleyball player.
• Be sure to visit PortlandPilots.com/VBGBlog all season long to get an in-depth look at the UP Volleyball Program.
 
More Exposure
• And don’t forget to visit the team’s facebook page for exclusive updates, photos, and information. The page can be found by searching for ‘Portland Pilots Volleyball’ on the facebook home page.