Despite dropping a tough match to San Francisco, the Pilots returned in full force for three seniors' final match.
By Lisa McMahan
After practicing, traveling and competing together for four years, three senior volleyball players battled their way through their final competition on the courts of Chiles.
In a five-set struggle, the volleyball team lost to the University of San Francisco Dons, but defeated the Santa Clara Broncos in just three sets.
On Nov. 12, the Pilots dueled the Dons (6-6) in a full five-set match, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, and 13-15.
"In the first game, we didn't come out focused and ready to go," senior Shelley Sievers said. "USF is not a top team in our conference."
The Pilots apparently gained their focus, improving their score from 12-24 to 22-24 in mere minutes.
Though the University of San Francisco won the first set after the Pilots' 10-point scoring streak, UP gained a 2-1 lead by winning the second and third sets.The game ended in defeat at 2-3, but it was not without accomplishment.
Junior Danielle Dupar broke into Portland's record books, adding 25 digs to her personal statistics and qualifying for 10th place in total career digs.
Senior Maria Clemens led the team in kills with 18, followed by freshman Ariel Usher's 15, freshman Kate Bostwick's 13, and senior Shelley Sievers' 11.
"We played well and only lost the match by two points," senior Kaylyn Jones said. "And really, those two points could have gone our way instead of in the other team's favor."
In their final home game on Nov. 14, the Pilots corralled the Broncos (5-7) into defeat, finishing the game in three sets at 25-18, 25-18, and 25-22.
This game was especially significant to seniors Clemens, Sievers, and Kaylyn Jones, who were honored before the game with their families, photos and flowers.
Sievers said she will miss playing with her team above all other factors.
"There is a team aspect, but we're a family on and off the court," she said.
Head Coach Joe Houck believes the knowledge that it was their final game after four years of volleyball at UP affected the whole team's play.
"The determination from the three seniors was amazing. It was the best and most consistently I have seen the three of them play, and the leadership they showed was contagious," Houck said.
The Pilots maintained a lead through the majority of the three sets.
"It was probably the best game we've played all season," sophomore Rachel Femling said.
Bostwick led the Pilots with 12 kills and Clemens clenched her third double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 defensive digs.
The volleyball team is now just two away games from finishing its season. With a current conference record of 2-10, the Pilots will match off against the University of San Diego tonight, and St. Mary's College on Saturday, who placed second and first in the WCC, respectively.
Though the Pilots will not compete in playoffs, the seniors believe the team has done remarkably well considering the series of adjustments made over the last few years.
"The seniors have made an effort to get better," Clemens said. "We've made some huge changes to turn these programs around."
These changes include new coaches and trainers.
Houck, who is finishing up his second year as head coach for the Pilots, saw his players accept that they controlled the team's reaction to an opponent in their game versus Santa Clara.
"It was really a breakthrough for us because we have struggled with that emotional side of competition much more than the 'can we play' issue," Houck said.
The team hopes to apply this knowledge to their last games in California.
"We have been studying together for a long time," Houck said, comparing athletics to academics, "and this weekend is the final exam."
