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PORTLAND, Ore. ­--- The Portland Pilots comeback was cut short by the No. 22 Loyola Marymount Lions who won the match 3-1 at the Chiles Center on Thursday night. Portland (5-9, 0-3 WCC) was led by senior Emily Liger who recorded 21 kills during the match.

LMU (15-1, 3-1 WCC) took the match with set scores of 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, and 26-24.

After going back and forth early in the set, LMU was able to pull away from Portland to win the set 25-19. The Lions and Pilots were tied on five occasions early in the set with the fifth time coming with the 8-8 scoreline. LMU's senior Caitlin DeWitt scored the Lion's ninth point off of a kill, which sparked four straight Lion points. The Lions held the lead that was gained during this stretch through the rest of the set. Liger led the way for the Pilots with six kills and an attack percentage of .267.

After a late run by the Pilots, the Lions were able to close out the second set 25-22. LMU had the advantage early in the game, but a critical timeout called by Portland with the score at 18-23 in favor of the Lions, sent the Pilots on a four point tear. Liger had two kills during this span, senior libero Katie Mardesich contributed a service ace, and sophomores Brittney Markwith and Katie Sullivan had a block, bringing the Pilots within one of the Lions at 22-23. LMU called a timeout to stop the Pilot momentum, and came out of the break scoring two quick points and winning the set. Portland was led by Liger who had seven kills during the set.

Portland controlled the third set, and held off multiple LMU runs, to win the game 25-23. The Pilots and Lions were point-for-point  through the early part of the set, but  a kill by Sullivan to put Portland ahead 11-10 got the Pilots rolling. LMU called a timeout with the Pilots up 15-12 trying to stifle the Pilots momentum, but Portland came out of the timeout and a block by Liger earned the Pilots 16^th point of the set. The Lions eventually tied the set up at 17 all, but kills by Liger and sophomore Makayla Lindburg and a service ace by Liger put the Pilots up three. Once again, the Lions battled back within one with the score at 21-20, but Portland held off yet another Lion attack, and went on to claim the set win. Liger led the Pilots again with four kills.

Portland continued their momentum from the third set, into the fourth set going out to an early lead 6-2. LMU worked back to tie the set at 8-8 and then to take the lead 12-10. The Lions were ahead 19-14 when Lindburg led the way as the Pilots scored six points in a row to go ahead of the Lions 20-19. LMU surged ahead to a 24-22 lead. Portland held off two LMU match points before LMU's Hannah Tedrow and Litara Keil blocked a Pilot attack to win the set 26-24. Lindburg tallied five kills during the set to lead the way for Portland.

The Pilots out-blocked LMU 14-9; Sullivan and freshman Sarah Savoca led the Pilots with seven blocks each.

Portland returns to action on Saturday to host the Pepperdine Waves at 1 p.m. in the Chiles Center.