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PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots won the first set, but the Pepperdine Waves came back to win the match 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the Chiles Center. Portland (5-10, 0-4 WCC) was led by sophomore Makayla Lindburg who had a team and match high 18 kills.

Pepperdine improves to 7-10 (2-3 WCC) with set scores of 14-25, 25-20, 25-21, and 25-23.

The Pilots jumped out to an early lead scoring the first five points of the first set, which prompted a Pepperdine timeout. The break did little to stifle the Portland momentum as they went on to score eight of the next 11 points putting the score at 14-3. The Waves used their second timeout and Jillian Bergeson came out of the huddle with a kill to score Pepperdine's fourth point of the set. Portland soon returned to their scoring ways when Lindburg hit home a kill to make the score 15-4. From there the Pilots were able to close out the set and take the match lead 1-0. Lindburg led the Pilots with five kills and a .417 attacking percentage.

Portland got a strong start again in the second set, but Pepperdine worked back to win the set and tie the match 1-1. Freshman Sarah Savoca had a big solo block to make the score 6-1 in favor of the Pilots. Pepperdine responded to the early Portland momentum with an 8-2 run to take the lead 9-8. The Waves and the Pilots traded points until Pepperdine went on a short run to gain a four point lead at 14-18. The Pilots battled back and a kill by senior Emily Liger pulled Portland within one at 19-20. The Waves scored five of the next six points to win the set. Lindburg had three kills during the game to lead Portland.

The third set was evenly matched as the Waves and Pilots battled for momentum. Portland and Pepperdine were tied four times and there were three lead changes prior to the 14-14 scoreline. Pepperdine surged ahead 19-16 causing the Pilots to call a timeout. Portland came out of their timeout to score three straight points on a kill by Lindburg, block by sophomore Brittney Markwith and Lindburg, and then a service ace by Lindburg to put the score at 21-23. This run caused Pepperdine to call a timeout, out of which, senior Samantha Cash earned the last two points for the Waves to win the game. Liger and Lindburg both had five kills during the set.

Pepperdine completed the comeback by winning the fourth set 25-23. The Waves used a five point run in the middle of the set to jump ahead of the Pilots 12-6. Portland cut the Pepperdine lead down to two, late in the set when Liger had a kill off of a Portland scramble play to make the score 19-21. Sophomore Katie Sullivan earned a point off of a kill to bring the Pilots within one at 22-23, but Pepperdine would score the next three points to win the set and match. Liger and Lindburg each had five kills again.

Liger recorded a double-double on the match with 15 kills and 12 digs. Portland out-blocked Pepperdine 11-6.

The Pilots are back on the road next week with a trip to the Bay Area to take on Santa Clara on Thursday Oct. 9 and San Francisco on Saturday Oct. 11.