by Ben Arthur |
After returning home from a two game trip in southern California, Portland fell to Pepperdine Thursday evening in the Chiles Center. Poor serve-receive was an issue for Portland as Pepperdine tallied seven service aces on their way to 3-1 victory over the Pilots. The Pilots fall to 1-4 in WCC while Pepperdine advances to 3-2.
Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Troutman led Portland with 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .271 in the loss.
Assistant coach Nellie Coleman hopes that the team can take Troutman’s energy and apply it to future matches.
“[Hannah] is a fighter,” Coleman said. “We just gotta keep spreading that fight among everyone and come out [hard] every game because in the WCC, every single night is a battle.”
Set one started out close with a 2-2 tie, but the Waves went on a six point unanswered run to make it 8-2 after capitalizing on a couple of miscommunications by the Pilots. Pepperdine maintained a comfortable lead midway through the set despite a 5-0 run by Portland. Strong play from Troutman and a pair of blocks brought the Pilots to within one at 16-15. The home team took the lead 18-17 after Troutman tallied three straight kills. Pepperdine reclaimed the lead at 19-18. From this point, the visitors from Malibu never looked back. They finished the first set on a 6-3 run.
Pepperdine took set one, 25-21.
The Pilots made up for their slow start in the game with a strong outing in the second set. After an early tie at 7-7, Portland never lost the lead. A kill from Senior outside hitter Emily Liger and a service error from the Waves capped off a 4-0 run for the Pilots to make it 11-8. An ace from Pepperdine brought the visitors within one at 11-10, but the home team quickly asserted control again. An attack from sophomore Sarah Savoca, that concluded the longest rally of the night, completed a 4-1 run for the Pilots. Pepperdine called their second timeout of set two with the Pilots leading 20-17, but that didn’t stop the home team’s momentum. Portland cruised to a set two victory on a 5-1 run after the timeout.
Portland took set two, 25-18.
Liger and Troutman had nine kills apiece going into the break and junior Makayla Lindburg chipped in five blocks.
The Waves came out firing in the second half beginning set three with a 6-1 run. The Pilots responded with two hammers from Troutman after a timeout. The visitors extended their lead to 11-5, before junior Brittney Markwith replied with a kill. Despite this, Pepperdine extended their lead to 17-9. Attacks spurred by Troutman and Liger cut the Waves' lead to three at 22-19. Portland reduced the deficit to one at 24-23, before the Waves closed out the set 25-23.
Set four was the closest contest of the match with seven ties. Pepperdine had an early 9-8 lead. A spectacular kill from Troutman tied the set at 10. The Waves then answered with a 3-0 run that forced Portland to take a timeout. A big-time block from the tandem of Markwith and Liger followed by a pair of kills tied the set back up at 16. Pepperdine stretched their lead to 20-16 after a four point unanswered run. A block from junior Katie Sullivan and an ace from Troutman highlighted a stretch that brought Portland to within one at 23-22, but Pepperdine finished off the set 25-23 to win the match.
Troutman dominated for the Pilots both offensively and defensively with 23 kills and 17 digs. Liger added 16 kills to that effort. Sophomore Morgan Robinson provided defensive support as well with 17 digs.
The Pilots (11-6, 1-4 WCC) will be looking to end their four game losing streak in the back end of their two game home stand Saturday afternoon at noon against LMU (11-6, 2-3 WCC).
Ben Arthur is a Sports Reporter for the Beacon. He can be reached by email at arthur17@up.edu or on twitter @KingArthur_425.
