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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- The San Francisco Dons needed a fifth set to top the Portland Pilots at the War Memorial Gym on Saturday afternoon. Portland (5-12, 0-6 WCC) was led by senior Emily Liger who had 16 kills during the match.

San Francisco (10-8, 3-3 WCC) won the match with set scores of 25-27, 26-24, 24-26, 25-11, and 15-13.

USF started the first set strong jumping to a 6-1 lead, but it was Portland that battled back to take the game in extra points. With the scoreline at 13-8, the Pilots went on an 8-1 run that was capped off by a kill by sophomore Katie Sullivan to take the lead 15-14. Losing for the first time in the set, the Dons called a timeout to slow Portland's momentum, but the Pilots scored the next point off of a block by Sullivan and freshman Sarah Savoca to increase the lead to two. The Dons and Pilots battled for the next few points, but with the score tied at 18, a kill by sophomore Brittney Markwith gave Portland the momentum and they went on to win six of the next seven points to put the score at 23-19. USF battled back to tie the match at 24 all, and the Pilots fought off a Don set point when USF went ahead 25-24. Portland claimed the set win when Liger hit a kill to make the score 27-25. Liger led the game for the Pilots with 6 kills and a .545 hitting percentage.

The Dons jumped out to an early lead again in the second set 9-1. Sophomore Makayla Lindburg had a kill and then senior Katie Mardesich added a service ace as they led the Pilots on a five point run to close the USF lead to three at 9-6. A four point run later in the set ended with a kill by Markwith to tie the set at 17-17. This tie was the first of eight that would occur in the remainder of the game. Portland was able to fight off a USF set point when the Dons were ahead 25-24, but USF capitalized on the next set point to win the set and tie the match 1-1. Portland was led by Markwith who recorded four kills during the set.

Extra points were needed again to decide the winner of the third set and it was the Pilots who came out on top. The Dons and Pilots were close throughout the set with each side fighting for momentum and the lead. The Pilots took a two point lead at 14-12 off of a pair of kills by Sullivan and Liger. Portland held the lead until USF tied it up at 17 all. The Dons then gained the momentum and took the lead 22-19, but the resilient Pilots worked back and tied the set up at 24-24. Sullivan earned the 25^th point for Portland off of a kill, and Liger recorded her 15^th kill of the match to give the Pilots the set win. Liger had seven kills as the Pilots went on to take the lead 2-1.

San Francisco pulled away to win the fourth set to tie the match and force a fifth set tie breaker.   

The Pilots and Dons were point-for-point through the beginning of the fifth set, but a late run by USF gave them the set win. Portland was ahead 12-9, but USF went on a 6-1 run to win the set and the match 15-13. Lindburg led the way for Portland with three kills.

Lindburg earned a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs on the match.

The Pilots next return home in a match-up with Saint Mary's on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chiles Center.