PROVO, Utah --- The Portland Pilots road trip was spoiled by the No. 13 BYU Cougars who won the Saturday afternoon match 3-0 in the Smith Fieldhouse. Sarah Savoca led the Pilots during the match with a .294 hitting percentage and nine kills.
 
BYU (17-2, 7-1 WCC) held off Portland (11-9, 1-7 WCC) with set scores of 25-16, 25-17, and 25-15.
 
BYU leads the WCC in blocks, but it was Portland who held the three to two advantage in blocks during the first set.
Katie Sullivan and Savoca combined for the Pilots first block of the match to cut the BYU lead to one at 3-2. The Cougars then went on a six point run to create a gap between the two sides. Even though Portland strung together a pair of three point runs during the set, the gap was too big to overcome and the nationally ranked Cougars took the first set.
 
Portland came out strong in the second earning the first point off of a block by Brittney Markwith and Savoca. The lead did not last as the Pilots and Cougars battled for momentum through the beginning of the set. Hannah Troutman made her presence known recording five kills, a pair of digs, and a block, but the Cougars had an answer and were able to extend their lead with the second set win.
 
Reigning WCC Player of the Year Alexa Gray led the Cougars in the final set of the match with ten kills as BYU went on to win the third set and the match. The Cougars remain in a three way tie for first place in the WCC.
 
The Pilots are on the road again next week when they head up to Spokane, Wash. to take on fellow Pacific Northwest school Gonzaga on Saturday Oct. 24 at 12:00 p.m.