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LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- The Loyola Marymount Lions came out strong against the Portland Pilots on Saturday afternoon, winning in three sets at the Albert Gersten Pavilion. Senior Emily Liger led Portland (5-17, 0-11 WCC) with 11 kills, which tied for a match high.

LMU (19-5, 7-5 WCC) won the match with set scores of 25-12, 25-23, and 25-18.

Freshman Sarah Savoca got the scoring started for the Pilots and senior Emily Liger added a pair of kills to put the Pilots within one of the Lions early in the first set 4-3. LMU then scored three in a row, increasing their lead and gaining momentum. The Lions used spurts of points to pull away from the Pilots through the middle of the set. With the score at 19-11 in favor of LMU, sophomore Makayla Lindburg earned the 12^th point for the Pilots, but the Lions countered with six points in a row to win the set.

The Pilots responded in the second set opening up with three points in a row and then jumping out to a 10-2 lead over the Lions. LMU then went on a 16-8 run to tie the set up at 18 all. Senior Bea Loper put the Pilots ahead 19-18 on a kill, but the Lions tied it up again on the following point. Portland and LMU were tied again at 20, 21, and 22 before the Lions went on a short 3-1 run to complete the comeback and take the match lead 2-0 heading into the break. Liger led the Pilots in kills with eight through the first two games.

Portland and LMU were evenly matched during the beginning of the third set as neither team gained momentum or led by more than three. With the score at 10-8 in favor of the Lions, LMU went on a 5-1 run to separate from the Pilots. Then, with the Lions up 18-10, Portland notched three in a row to cut the LMU lead to five. The Pilots made a run at the Lions, but LMU held on to preserve the set and match win. Leading Portland during the set was Lindburg who accumulated four kills.  

Loper and senior Katie Mardesich led the team defensively with two blocks and 13 digs, respectively.

The Pilots return home next weekend hosting San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. and Santa Clara on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m.