Having played a tough five-set match earlier in the day, the Seattle University volleyball team hung with the University of Portland, but the Pilots were able to win the key points, especially in the first two sets, to defeat the Redhawks, 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 25-18), in the third match of the day at the Portland State Volleyball Showcase at the Stott Center.
Portland (3-6) was able to score three consecutive points in the middle of the first set to go up 12-9, but Seattle University fought back, taking a 19-18 lead on a block by Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) and Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.). Three kills by Maria Clemens and four kills from Ashley Grayson allowed the Pilots to pull out the first set victory.
was seemingly in control of the second set, going up by four at 10-6 and then withstanding a rally to extend the lead again to 15-12. After the Pilots scored three unanswered points to tie the set, 15-15, the action went back and forth, with neither team able to break away. was able to avoid losing the set three times before K.C. Fox notched a block and then served set point, as the Redhawks committed an attack error to fall behind two sets to zero.
In the third set, the Redhawks took advantage of a service ace and two Pilot attack errors to take an 11-8 lead, but struck back, using ’s mistakes to score five unanswered points. The Redhawks fought back to tie the set, but three straight points allowed to take the lead for good. With the score 20-18, Portland finished off the match with back-to-back kills and a combined block from Marissa Plummer and Grayson, a Redhawk attack error, and a service ace from Clemens.
Richards again led the way offensively for , earning 11 kills and posting a .290 hitting percentage. Libby Graff (, ) finished with six kills, three digs, and two total blocks, while Kaytlyn Dill (, ) and Emily Powell () each notched five kills, with Dill also leading the team with three service aces. Jamie Mellies () finished with 31 assists, two aces, four digs, and two blocks, and Beckerman contributed four kills and four blocks.
“I am pleased with the way our team has improved, especially in the service game,” head coach Shannon Ellis said. “We played two tough matches today. The win over was a great one for the program, but it took a little out of the team. However, they fought hard against and I am happy with the progress the players are showing.”
(2-7) concludes its participation in the tournament by facing the host Portland State Vikings Saturday, Sept. 13, beginning at 2 p.m. Live stats will be available through ’s website (http://www.goviks.com), while live video is scheduled to be available for free through the Big Sky Conference’s broadcast website (www.BigSkyTV.org). After road matches at Pac-10 schools Oregon (Sept. 14) and Washington (Sept. 18), the Redhawks return to the Connolly Center for an exhibition match against the Zhejiang Club Team from China Friday, Sept. 19, beginning at 7 p.m., followed by a Saturday afternoon match against nationally-ranked San Diego on Sept. 20 starting at 12 noon.