Box Score I
Box Score (pdf)SPOKANE, Wash. --- In the final match of WCC play, the Gonzaga Bulldogs held off the Portland Pilots 3-1 at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre on Tuesday night. Portland (6-23, 1-17 WCC) was led by senior Bea Loper and sophomore Makayla Lindburg who each registered nine kills during the match.
Gonzaga improved to 17-12 and 8-10 in conference with set scores of 25-20, 25-19, 23-25, and 25-22.
Freshman Ali Koumelis set up sophomore Katie Sullivan for a kill to tie the first set up at 4-4. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-1 run to jump out to a 12-5 lead. The Bulldogs increased the lead until nine points separated the two sides at 24-15. The Pilots held off five Gonzaga set points before conference kill leader Savannah Blinn hit the 25
th point for the Bulldogs. Freshman Sarah Savoca led the attack for the Pilots with an attack percentage of .429 and recording four kills.
Gonzaga continued strong play from the first set into the second jumping to an early 10-4. Savoca then hit a kill which sparked an 8-2 run by the Pilots to tie the set up at 12-12. After trading points, the Bulldogs used a 7-1 run to take the second set and head into the break with a 2-0 advantage. Portland was led by Loper who tallied three kills during the second set.
Savoca and Sullivan teamed up for a block to increase the Pilot lead to two at 6-4 and continued the momentum as Portland scored the next four in a row causing the Bulldogs to call a timeout. Gonzaga earned the first point out the timeout, but the Pilots scored four of the next five to take a 15-7 lead over the home squad. Gonzaga out scored Portland 16-8 to tie the set up at 23 all, but the Pilots closed out the set on a service ace by senior Emily Liger to force a fourth game. Loper added four kills to her total, leading Portland in the third.
The Bulldogs responded in the fourth by scoring the first four points of the set holding a 4-0 lead. The Pilots gained momentum and closed the gap to one at 11-12. Gonzaga used a six point run to increase their lead, but Portland responded with a four point run of their own. With the score at 23-21, a pair of kills by Jordan Gasser gave the Bulldogs the set and match win. Lindburg had three kills during the final set to lead the Pilots.
Koumelis recorded a double-double during the match with 16 assists and 11 digs.
Portland returns home for the final match of the season and senior night as the Pilots take on the Seattle U Redhawks at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Chiles Center.