Oct. 1, 2005

Final Stats

SPOKANE, Wash. - Trailing 13-9 in the final game, Gonzaga University scored the final six points of the match to knocked off the University of Portland in the West Coast Conference opener for both schools. Becky Jones hammered down two points and picked up a solo block during the six-point run as the Bulldogs won their first WCC opener since the 1994 season and ended a 14-match WCC losing streak at the same time. Gonzaga (9-7, 1-0 WCC) won the five-game thriller, 22-30, 30-22, 22-30, 30-21, 15-13. Portland dropped to 3-10 on the year, 0-1 in the WCC.

Jones led all players on the day with 27 kills including three in the final game. She connected for a .302 attack percentage adding 17 digs and 4 blocks to her match totals. It was the 10th double-double of the year for the sophomore outside hitter and her eighth in the last nine matches.

Portland jumped out to a commanding 10-3 lead in the final game as Murphy McClenahan served six straight points for the Pilots including a pair of service aces. McClenahan providing two of the Pilots seven aces in the match. Outside hitter Sara Vercruyssen also got into the act in game five for UP hitting down two of her 17 kills during the early 10-3 run.

The Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the lead as Portland took advantage of two attack errors and a Pilots ball handling error to cut the lead to 11-6. GU freshman Michelle Boevers then picked up kills on three of the next four plays to bring Gonzaga back to within striking distance at 13-9. Back-to-back solo blocks by Jones and Kelly Steinhaus brought the Bulldogs to a 13-12 score. Jones would then put the game away for Gonzaga with two kills on the final three points.

"This was a great way to start conference play," said an elated Kip Yoshimura following the Bulldogs dramatic win. "Our team never quit during the match. The players on the floor just kept telling themselves that we were going to pull this one out. I think this type of win shows the growth our program has taken over the past couple of years as we continued to keep fighting until the final point was scored."

Following Jones on the attack was Boevers with 13 kills and sophomore middle blocker Briawna Mueller with 13 kills. Mueller also 10 blocks with nine of them block assists. The nine block assists ties for 8th on the Bulldogs single match chart, a spot Mueller also accompanies from two matches last season. Senior Lacey Bell rounded out the Zags top attackers with 10 kills.

Gonzaga also dominated play at the net and in the defensive back court. GU finished with 27 total blocks compared to only 14 for Portland. The Bulldogs also picked up 101 digs compared to 90 for Portland. Jessica Herrera led the Bulldogs with 26 digs which tied for eighth on the single-match total list for five games. Alecia Douglas added 23 digs. McClenahan led Portland with 26 digs.

The Pilots top attackers were Nicole Thometz with 24 kills and Vercruyssen with 17.

Gonzaga returns to action on Tuesday night with a 7 p.m. match at the University of Idaho. The Bulldogs return to conference action on Friday and Saturday with road action against nationally ranked Santa Clara University and the University of San Diego.