Box Score
Wedan and Usher Orchestrate Pilot Comeback to Capture Nike Portland Invitational Title
 
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Upperclassman leadership played a pivotal role as the Portland Pilots overcame a 2-1 deficit against the UNLV Rebels to capture the Nike Portland Invitational Tournament title Saturday night at the Chiles Center by scores of 25-21, 22-25, 22-17, 25-21, 15-9. . Senior Ariel Usher led the Pilots with 20 kills and Autumn Wedan added 13. Wedan claimed tournament MVP honors as Portland swept the tournament field.
 
Portland (4-3) proved to be too much for UNLV (3-3) in the fifth set as all the Pilot attackers found the golden touch, hitting a blistering .750 in the decisive set. Sophomore Sam Moore gave Portland a 3-2 lead with back-to-back kills as UNLV’s block attempts caromed off the antenna. When the Rebels defense adjusted, Usher took control, expanding the Pilots lead to 11-6 with a trio of powerful kills.
 
Following a pair of back corner kills from junior setter Monica Jordan, Wedan finished the set in familiar fashion, striking an attack in between the middle of a helpless UNLV defense to seal Portland’s first Nike Portland Invitational title since 2004.
 
“It is a sprint, make every attempt, every move your best,” Portland head coach Joe Houck said regarding the team’s mentality heading into the fifth set. “The experience of being through so many of those last year and the understanding what the fifth set is all about helped.”
 
Added Houck, “We came after it offensively with a fireworks show for the grand finale. When you’re swinging .750 in the fifth set with zero errors, that’s pretty impressive. It is never just the swing though, it’s a combination of things, so to put it all together and finish with that level of confidence was very special.”
 
Wedan led the tournament field with 51 kills including a career-high 20 in the opening match against Idaho State. It’s the second All-Tournament honors for the Klamath Falls native, who played her way onto the Golden Dome Invitational last season. Wedan provided an all around dynamic performance, adding 26 digs and five blocks on the weekend.
 
“The tournament was a big step up for the entire team. I was just happy to help out the team; being the MVP was just an addition to that,” Wedan said following the match. “This was a lot of growing for us and allowed us to prove what we can truly do. Being able to jump out to that huge lead at the beginning was a big momentum change for us.”
 
Usher was equally potent on the attack for Portland, totaling 48 kills on a .283 attacking percentage. The native of Hillsboro, Ore., tallied 13 blocks in the tournament. Senior Rachel Femling (17 blocks) and sophomore Bea Loper (15 blocks) applied the defensive pressure all tournament as well.
 
“Ariel has the ability to play six rotation situations and it hadn’t been called upon this season,” Houck added. “She is a unifying force on the court from her swings on the court to her senior leadership.”
 
Portland returns to the court on Friday as they head to the New Mexico Tournament to play UC Santa Barbara, Georgia Southern, and New Mexico. The Pilots return to the Chiles Center on Tuesday, September 11, for a lone match against the Washington Huskies.
 
2012 Nike Portland Invitational
Winning Team: Portland (3-0)
MVP: Autumn Wedan, Portland
All-Tournament Team (alphabetical)
Lori Mendenhall, Idaho State
Candice Thomas, UNLV
Ariel Usher, Portland
Breanne Van Every, Idaho State
Naomi Wells, Tennessee State