Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led the way for Seattle University with 12 kills along with nine digs and two total blocks, while Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) contributed seven kills and three block assists. Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) collected 30 assists, five digs, and five total blocks, Raissa Licano-Sanchez (Grandview, Wash.) contributed eight blocks to go along with four kills, and Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) led the team with 20 defensive digs and one service ace.
Seattle University was determined to extend the match past the third set, taking an early 8-3 lead before Portland went on its own 8-3 run to tie the set at 11-11. Richards earned three kills and a block assist as SeattleU outscored Portland, 7-1, to open an 18-12 advantage. The Pilots came within three late in the set, but committed a service error to give SeattleU the third set.
Two kills from Marissa Plummer allowed Portland to take the early lead in the fourth set, and the Pilots would expand that lead thanks to an 11-3 run. Three Pilot errors prolonged the match, but the home team finally closed out the night with a kill by Maria Clemens.
In the first set, a block by Mellies and Kelly Biette (Brighton, Colo.) followed by a kill from Richards allowed Seattle University to pull into a 10-10 tie. Portland would go on an 11-3 run to open an eight-point advantage, but the Redhawks scored five of the next six points to pull within four at 22-18. The Pilots closed out the set with a block and a SeattleU attack error.
Portland (4-11) kept the momentum going in the second set, scoring the first four points to take the early lead. Still down by four later in the set, Seattle University took advantage of a few Portland mistakes to pull into a 17-17 tie. After trading points to bring the set to a 20-20 tie, the Pilots scored the final five points, three of them off kills from Jessica Clemens, to finish off the set and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Jessica Clemens led the Pilots with 14 kills and also picked up 11 digs, while sister Maria Clemens earned 12 kills and eight digs. Plummer finished the night with 10 kills and a .348 hitting percentage, and Shelley Sievers added eight kills and eight total blocks to the winning effort. Kaylyn Jones earned 23 assists, three aces, and four digs, Madison Smith dished out 22 assists along with six digs, and Jessica Baty contributed 22 defensive digs.
Seattle University (4-14) returns home Thursday, Oct. 1, to face Trinity Western starting at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center. This is the first of two straight home matches for the Redhawks, as Portland State will make the trip north next Wednesday, Oct. 7, for a 7 p.m. match at the Connolly Center. Live stats for both SeattleU home matches will be available through GoSeattleU.com.