Box Score   I   Box Score (pdf)   I   Liz Lord Feature   I   Video Highlights

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Gonzaga Bulldogs came back to beat the Portland Pilots in four sets on Saturday afternoon in the Chiles Center. Portland (5-15, 0-9 WCC) was led by senior Emily Liger who recorded 21 kills during the match.

Gonzaga (14-6, 5-4 WCC) topped the Pilots with set scores of 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, and 25-19.

Portland held the conference leader in kills, Gonzaga's Savannah Blinn, to just four kills during the first set as the Pilots took the early match lead 1-0. The Pilots controlled the set, never trailing and had the momentum throughout. Freshman Maddy Mandon had three big kills late in the set that increased the lead for the Pilots 18-14. Fellow freshman Sarah Savoca then began a three point run for the Pilots that brought Portland to set point at 24-19. Gonzaga countered with a short run to close the gap, but Liger hit home her sixth kill of the set to get the Pilots to 25.

The Pilots continued their momentum from the first set as they jumped out to an early lead in the second. Gonzaga was ready for the Portland attack this time as they rallied back and tied the game at 10-10. Blinn then lead the Bulldogs on a three point run causing Portland to call a timeout at 13-10. The Pilots came out and scored the next point off of a kill by Liger to bring Portland within two of Gonzaga. The Bulldogs pulled away jumping to a 23-15 lead. Portland fought back cutting into the lead on kills by Savoca and Liger, but Gonzaga was able to get to 25 before the Pilots could complete the comeback. Both Liger and sophomore Makayla Lindburg recorded five kills during the set.

Gonzaga and Portland were within three points of each other through the beginning of the set. The Bulldogs then used a four point run to pull ahead by seven late in the set 17-10. A long rally at the 21-13 scoreline ended in a Bulldog point further separating Gonzaga from Portland.  Sophomore Monica Gajda then had a pair of impressive defensive plays that kept another long rally going at 23-15. This time the rally would fall in favor of the Pilots as Mandon hit her sixth kill of the match and cut into the Bulldog lead. Portland held off four Gonzaga set points before the Bulldogs notched the 25^th point. It was Liger and Lindburg again leading the Pilots with six kills each.

Liger helped Portland get off to a good start in the fourth when she had two kills that put the Pilots up 2-0. The two sides were point-for-point until the Bulldogs scored four points in a row to go ahead 11-6 which prompted a Pilot time out. Portland came out of the time out and went on a 7-3 run that ended on a service ace by Liger to tie the set at 14-14. Gonzaga responded with a three point run of their own which gave them the momentum to close out the set and win the match. Liger led the Pilots again with four kills during the set.

The Pilots next head down to sunny California to play Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount as they begin the second half of conference play.