Box Score No. 24 BYU Posts Straight Sets Win Over Pilots

Box Score

PROVO, Utah --- The No. 24-ranked BYU Cougars played big on Senior Day at the Marriott Center with a straight set victory over the Portland Pilots on Saturday. The Cougars won by scores of 25-17, 25-16, 25-13 to improve to 22-5 overall and 15-2 in West Coast Conference action and will take at least a share of first place into their season finale at San Diego.

The Pilots (0-25, 0-16) were led by senior Autumn Wedan with 14 kills, while junior libero Katie Mardesich finished with a match-high 11 digs.

Portland led the opening set 4-1 on a pair of early kills by freshman Makayla Lindburg, but BYUre-took the lead at 8-7 and never looked back.

BYU jumped out to a 5-0 margin in the second set as the Pilots struggled to a 0.83 hitting percentage. The Cougars hit .324 to keep Portland at arm's length and take a 2-0 lead.

The third set featured seven ties and three lead changes early as Emily Liger and Brittney Markwith combined for a block to give Portland an 11-10 lead. BYU countered with six unanswered points and then cruised to a 25-13 finish.

BYU hit a blistering .430 for the match with just eight attack errors on 86 attempts. Portland finished with a .150 attack percentage. The Cougars used their dominant size at the net to gain a 14.5-5.0 margin in total blocks.

Portland will now return home for the final two matches of the 2013 season next week. The Pilots host Pacific (Calif.) on Thursday at 8 p.m. and then will welcome Saint Mary's at 1 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Day. The Pilots will recognize seniors Christina Harris, Monica Jordan and Autumn Wedan before the first serve.