Box Score 1 | Box Score 2    I   Eastern Washington Box Score (pdf)   I   Missouri Box Score (pdf) 

MOSCOW, Idaho. --- The Portland Pilots kicked off the Idaho Nike Invitational by going 1-1 on the day. In the first match, the Pilots beat the Eastern Washington Eagles 3-1 at Memorial Gym on the University of Idaho Campus. In the second match, the Portland Pilots fell to the Missouri Tigers 3-1. The Pilots were led by senior Emily Liger who earned 28 kills in the first match and by sophomore Makayla Lindburg who notched 13 kills in the second match. 
 
Portland (4-3) beat Eastern Washington (4-3) with set scores of 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, and 25-17.
 
The first set was point-for-point early on, but the Pilots pulled away to win 25-22. With the score tied 10-10, a kill by sophomore Makayla Lindburg sparked a 7-2 run for the Pilots. Eastern Washington cut the lead with a run of their own to make the score 16-17, but a trio of kills by Liger further separated the teams and Portland would roll to the set victory. Liger led the way for the Pilots with nine kills and an attacking percentage of .643.
 
The Eagles came out strong in the second set and held off a late Pilot comeback to take the set 25-19. Eastern Washington surged ahead early and weathered an 8-1 mid-set rally by the Pilots. Portland was within two points of the Eagles at 18-20, but Eastern Washington pulled away late and won the set. Liger recorded five kills on the set.
 
Portland rebounded to win the third set 25-19. Liger earned the third point of the set for the Pilots making the score 3-2 and gave the Pilots the early momentum. Lindburg continued the momentum for Portland when she added a kill of her own to make the score 12-7, propelling the Pilots to an eventual eight-point lead. The Eagles made a late run, but it fell short and the Pilots won the set on a service ace by senior libero Katie Mardesich. Liger's seven kills were a team-high for the set.
 
The Pilots claimed the fourth set by a 25-17 margin. Portland came out of the gate strong with the help of freshman Sarah Savoca, who started the Portland run with a pair of kills. Eastern Washington battled back to tie the set at 11-11 and the Eagles and Pilots exchanged points from there. A Portland timeout slowed the Eagle momentum and an Eastern Washington service error followed by a service ace by sophomore Brittney Markwith turned the tide in favor of Portland. And with the score at 16-15, Portland finished the set on a 10-1 run. Liger added seven kills en route to the set victory.
 
Lindburg finished the match with 10 kills of her own, while Mardesich had 19 digs.
 
Missouri (7-4) beat Portland with set scores of 14-25, 25-21, 6-25, and 22-25.

The Tigers started the match off strong taking the first set 25-14. Missouri gained the momentum with four straight points to start the set and they never let up. Liger led the Pilots with four kills while Lindburg added three of her own.

Portland and Missouri battled for the second set and the Pilots would prevail with a score of 25-21. Liger and sophomore Katie Sullivan each provided a kill that led to the Pilots tying it up at 6 all. Portland and Missouri would tie six more times in the set as momentum shifted back and forth. A kill by Lindburg to make the score 19-18 in favor of the Pilots gave them the momentum which lasted until Lindburg was again able to get the kill on the 25^th point and win the set for the Pilots. Lindburg led the Pilots with five kills.

Like the first set, Missouri came out strong to start the third set and would continue on to claim the set 25-6.

The Pilots rebounded in the fourth set, but the Tigers took it 25-22. With similarities to the second set, Missouri and Portland battled point for point through the beginning of the set. Markwith had kills late to tie the set at 19 and 21 all, but the Tigers were able to close out the set and match.

The Pilots next take on the host team Idaho on Saturday at 12 noon (Pacific) in the final match of the Idaho Nike Invite.