Portland Pilots Surge Past San Jose State Spartans, 3-1
Portland (3-1) senior outside hitter Emily Liger recorded a double-double and set a career high with 29 kills.
(DAVIS, Calif. ) — The Portland Pilots overcame an early set-back to surge past the San Jose State Spartans 3-1 on the first day of the Aggie Invitational at the Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.
Portland (3-1) senior outside hitter Emily Liger recorded a double-double and set a career high with 29 kills.
The Pilots led the first set late, but San Jose State (0-4) rallied to a 25-23 win and claimed an early 1-0 lead. Liger led the way for the Pilots in the set with five kills.
The Pilots bounced back in the second set and took it by a 25-20 margin. A kill by Liger to make the score 4-3 sent the Pilots on a five-point run that gave them the lead and momentum.
The Spartans did not threaten the Pilots for the rest of the set as Liger again hit five kills and added five digs.
The third set brought another Portland win as the Pilots edged the Spartans 25-22. The Pilots would have to battle back early as the Spartans started off strong. Portland tied the set at 14-14 off of a kill from Liger before the two teams embarked on a point-for-point race to 25.
Liger had two kills down the stretch and senior libero Katie Mardesich had a service ace that propelled the Pilots to the set win. Liger added to her total with 10 more kills.
Portland took control of the fourth set early and held off a late run by the Spartans to seal the win, 25-23. Sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Katie Sullivan earned the first and last points of the set, and Liger contributed nine kills. Sullivan finished with six kills of her own.
The Pilots next face tournament host UC Davis Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Source: University of Portland Athletics
