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SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- After a close first set, No. 24 San Diego beat the Portland Pilots in three sets at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the opening night of WCC play. Sophomores Brittney Markwith and Katie Sullivan led Portland (5-7) with eight kills a-piece. USD (8-5) claimed the match with set scores of 25-17, 25-14, and 25-11.
 
A USD error and then a block by sophomore Makayla Lindburg and Markwith, started the scoring for the Pilots. Portland's biggest lead of the set came at 5-2 after a service ace from Markwith gave the Pilots the three point lead. The Toreros fought back to tie the game at 5-5, and both sides battled for the momentum through the middle of the set. Senior Emily Liger had the second service ace for the Pilots to put the scoreline at 15-16 USD. In response, the Toreros took the next five points and nine of the final 11 points of the set, to take the match lead 1-0. Markwith led the Pilots with four kills and a hitting percentage of .667 during the set.
 
The Toreros continued the momentum from the first set to go ahead early in the second. Kills by Lindburg, Markwith, and Liger kept Portland close, but USD was able to slowly pull away. A kill by USD's Sandra Lozic on the last point of the set gave the Toreros the 2-0 advantage in the match. Portland was led by Sullivan who had three kills during the game.
 
USD controlled the third set going ahead early 10-1. Portland chipped away at the Torero lead, but USD was able to close out the set and win the match. Sullivan added to her total kills with three, while Markwith added two of her own.
 
The Pilots will head up to BYU on Saturday to face the No. 11 Cougars at 12:00 p.m. (Pacific).