SPOKANE, Wash.--- The Portland Pilots were overcome by the Gonzaga Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in the Martin Centre in the Pilots' lone West Coast Conference match of the weekend. Portland fought through three sets but the Bulldogs prevailed by scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 25-22.
 
The Bulldogs (12-7, 5-4 WCC) opened up the first set with a four-point run to start 6-1. The Pilots (11-10, 4-5 WCC) then went on a five-point run of their own to tie it up 8-8. The two teams battled back and forth for the next few points until Gonzaga went on another run to increase their lead by seven. The Pilots then tried to regain momentum with two  kills from Reghan Pukis, along with kills from Katie Sullivan and Hannah Troutman, but the Zags held on to win the first set by six.
 
With the score tied 6-6 in the second set, Cali Thompson followed a kill by Sarah Savoca with consecutive aces to give the visitors a three-point lead. The Bulldogs recovered to even the score once again before jumping ahead 19-14. Brittney Markwith then sparked a late surge for the Pilots with a pair of kills that pulled Portland within 23-20. But Gonzaga would secure the set from there to take a 2-0 overall lead.
 
The Pilots and the Bulldogs kept the last set close for the majority of the points. Even at 8-8, Pukis, Troutman, and Markwith recorded kills to put Portland ahead by two. Troutman then registered another pair of kills before Gonzaga's Emmy Allen notched three kills in a row to even the set again at 17-17. Despite kills from Troutman, Markwith, and Maddy Mandon, Allen again recorded another kill, and McKayla Ferris finished up the set and match.
 
Troutman and Pukis led the Pilots with 13 and 12 kills on the afternoon. Monica Gajda and Morgan Robinson had 16 and 13 digs, while Thompson recorded 36 assists on the match.
 
The Pilots will next be in action on the road at Santa Clara and San Francisco on Oct. 27 and 29.