PORTLAND, Ore. --- Responding to a set deficit, the Portland Pilots defeated the Santa Clara Broncos in three straight sets to claim the 3-1 victory on the road to begin the second half of West Coast Conference play at the Leavey Center. The Pilots battled through four tight sets with Santa Clara, ending with scores of 21-25, 26-25, 25-20, and 26-24. This is the first time the Pilots have beaten the Broncos in Santa Clara since 1994. 
 
The Pilots (12-10, 5-5 WCC) and Broncos fought back and forth for the majority of points in the first set. Katie Sullivan opened up play with two kills, followed by several kills from Monica Gajda, Brittney Markwith and Sarah Savoca, to make the match even at 12-12. Troutman then registered a kill to push it to a three-point lead for the Pilots. Portland tried to pull away at 20-17, but was stopped by the Broncos, who went on a four-point run to tie it 21-21. Santa Clara's Hailey Lindberg then had back-to-back kills to take the lead, and Sabrina Clayton finished up the set with a kill to end it 25-21.
 
Again the two conference rivals began the second set even in points, until Santa Clara (12-11, 3-8 WCC) went on a five-point run to take the 15-10 lead. Santa Clara's Nikki Hess then led the Broncos through another five points to push the lead to 22-15, before Troutman, Cali Thompson, and Reghan Pukis combined to spark a Portland comeback. The Pilots then pushed the set into extra points, ultimately claiming the set 26-24.
 
With the match now even, the two teams started neck-and neck in the third set. Savoca and Markwith came up with a block to tie it 7-7, which was followed by a kill from Troutman togive the Pilots their first lead of the set. Savoca and Markwith then came up with another meaningful block, but the Broncos responded with a block of their own to keep the score tied 11-11. Moments later a kill from Savoca sparked a five-point run to give the visitors a 22-17 lead, and then Sullivan then recorded a kill to bring it to set point. Pukis followed with the deciding kill to win the set 25-20.
 
Sullivan started off the last set with two kills to match points from the Broncos' Taylor Odom and Hess. The game was still tied 12-12 minutes later, but the Broncos were able to create some separation from there, seemingly taking control of the set with a 22-17 lead. But the Pilots had an answer, in the form of a pair of kills from Pukis that helped pull Portland within 23-21. Troutman added a kill and Markwith pushed the set to extra points with a kill of her own. Savoca then completed the comeback and sealed the win with the deciding kill.
 
Troutman led the Pilots with a double-double on the night, finishing with 16 kills and 16 digs. Sullivan and Pukis both recorded 12 kills. Gajda led in digs with 23, followed by Thompson with 11, and Morgan Robinson and Lauren Naatz, who each notched 10. Thompson had 26 assists on the night.
 
The Pilots will continue play on the road on Saturday afternoon against the San Francisco Dons at 1 p.m.