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MORAGA, Calif. --- It took five sets to determine a winner between the Portland Pilots and the Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday afternoon in the McKeon Pavilion and it would be the home team that would prevail. Portland (6-20, 1-14 WCC) was led by freshman Sarah Savoca who had 13 kills and a hitting percentage of .367 on the match.

Saint Mary's improves to 9-16 overall and 5-10 in conference with set scores of 15-25, 25-22, 25-16, 20-25, and 15-9.

Senior Bea Loper started the scoring for the Pilots, scoring the first point of the match off of a kill. Portland continued to maintain the lead through the beginning of the set and held a five point advantage at 15-10. A service ace by sophomore Makayla Lindburg increased the lead at 19-11 and kept the momentum in the Portland favor until the 23-12 scoreline. The Gaels then made a three point run to close the gap, but the Pilots responded with three straight to win the first set. Senior Emily Liger led the way for Portland with five kills.

Saint Mary's came out strong in the second set jumping to an 8-3 lead over the Pilots. Portland then went on a five point run that was kicked off by a kill by Savoca, which tied the set 8-8. The Gaels regained the lead, and held the momentum until the 24-20 scoreline when the Pilots held off a pair of set points and closed the gap to two.  Saint Mary's then scored the final point of the set to tie the match up at 1-1. Portland out hit Saint Mary's 25 kills to 23 through the first two sets, and had the advantage in hitting percentage .203 to .125.

Portland took the first two points of the third set, but Saint Mary's responded and tied the set up at 4-4. The Gaels then gained the lead and went up 19-11. The Pilots then scored the next three points to cut the lead to five. The comeback was cut short, and Saint Mary's went on to win the set and take the 2-1 match lead. Portland was led offensively by Savoca who recorded three kills during the set.

The Pilots came back from being down 7-2 to win the fourth set. Loper and Liger led the Pilots on the comeback by hitting three kills apiece. Portland and Saint Mary's were tied 18-18 when Liger hit a kill that set the Pilots on a 7-2 run that tied the match up 2-2, forcing a fifth tie breaker set.

The Gaels took the early 4-1 lead in the fifth, but Portland scored the next three to tie the set at 4-4. The two sides were tied five more times during the set before Saint Mary's pulled away to win the set and the match on their Senior Day.

The Pilots return home for their final home conference matches of the 2014 campaign on Thursday against BYU and Saturday against San Diego. Saturday's match will also be Senior Day as Portland's seniors will be honored before the match.