MORAGA, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots used 18 blocks to beat the Saint Mary's Gaels at the McKeon Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. Emily Liger hit .226 and recorded 17 kills to lead the Pilots offensively.
 
Portland (16-13, 6-11 WCC) beat Saint Mary's (6-21, 1-16 WCC) with set scores of 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, and 25-19.
 
Hannah Troutman took control of the set early for the Pilots with a pair of kills and a service ace to give Portland the advantage 5-2. Sarah Savoca and Brittney Markwith teamed up for a block to put the Pilots up five at 10-5. The Gaels worked back to tie the set at 12. Saint Mary's maintained the momentum through the middle of the set earning a two point advantage until Portland scored four unanswered points to take the lead 19-17. With the Pilots up 23-19 the Gaels went on a 5-0 run to be in position for set point at 24-23. Portland responded scoring three in a row to win the first. During the set, the Pilots recorded seven blocks.
 
Saint Mary's responded in the second, taking the lead 9-5. Portland closed the gap to two at 10-8, but the Gaels maintained the momentum and held the lead through the rest of the set to tie the match up at one heading into the break.
 
Sullivan's fourth kill of the match tied the third set at four all. The two sides traded points until Saint Mary's Payton Rund hit two kills in a row to put the Gaels up 9-7. The Pilots continued strong blocking and were able to take the 10-9 lead thanks to two blocks by Savoca and Markwith. Portland's twelfth block of the match tied the set up at 15. Down 16-18, the Pilots scored three points in a row to go up 19-18, however the lead would not last as the Gaels tied the set once again on the next point. Savoca had a big kill from the right side to put Portland up 24-23 and then an awkward point landed in favor of the Pilots giving the visitors the 2-1 lead.
 
The set was tied at four when the Pilots went on a 6-0 run to take the lead 10-4. Portland maintained momentum and extended the lead to eight at 16-8. Mikaela Nocetti served her second ace of the match to keep the Pilots ahead of the Gaels at 19-13. Portland then rolled to the set and match win.
 
Portland has been without Djurdjina Milovic the past two matches. Milovic broke her hand in practice on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. The junior setter has played an integral part in the Pilot's success this season as she has registered 1,035 assists, which is the tenth most in one season in program history. At only 5-7 the Serbia native has also done her part at the net being a part of 37 blocks, including two solo blocks.
 
The Pilots will return home for the last WCC match of the season when they take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Monday night at 5 p.m. The match will be the last home stand of the season and senior Emily Liger will be honored in a ceremony before the match.