SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Portland's epic season continued as the Pilots took an early lead before upending the No. 7 San Diego Toreros in five sets in a West Coast Conference volleyball match played at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Thursday night. The seventh ranked Toreros are the highest ranked opponent the Pilots have ever defeated, and its San Diego's first loss at home this season.
 
The Pilots, who have now defeated two ranked opponents this fall, won the first two sets 27-25 and 25-20. USD bounced back to take the next two 25-16 and 25-20, and Portland clinched the fifth and deciding set 15-13.
 
Tied up at 7-7 to start the first set, the Toreros (21-4, 12-2) scored two straight to take the slim lead. Portland's (15-11, 8-6 WCC) Reghan Pukis then registered two kills to spark a four-point run, handing the Pilots the advantage. San Diego closed the gap and evened the set at 20-20, but Hannah Troutman continued the momentum for the Pilots with a kill to bring Portland close to winning set. It would then go to extra points before Katie Sullivan and Brittney Markwith recorded crucial kills to help the Pilots hold on to win 27-25.
 
The Pilots then took control of the match by winning the second set. USD led early, but kills from Troutman and Sarah Savoca evened the score. Portland would then surge head with kills from Savoca and Sullivan, but the top-10 Toreros recovered to the level the score. Sullivan then pushed the Pilots' lead to 21-19, and moments later the senior would help give Portland the 2-0 lead with another kill.
 
San Diego rebounded to take the next two sets, setting up the dramatic finish.
 
The fifth set began evenly with the scored tied 5-5. It remained tied minutes later, with the help of a solo block from Markwith and a kill by Savoca. The Toreros then appeared on the verge of completing the comeback victory, claiming a 12-10 lead. But the Pilots refused to falter, and soon it was match point at 14-13 after Sullivan, Troutman and Pukis recorded key kills. The Pilots then stunned their hosts with the 15-13 win.
 
Pukis led the Pilots with 12 kills and Troutman recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs. Gajda and Emma Scanlan also had double digit digs for the match with 16 and 10, respectively. Thompson recorded 45 total assists.
 
This is just the second win for the Pilots ever in San Diego, with the first coming back in 1987. Portland has also now won two out of their last three matches against the Toreros.
 
The Pilots will continue their road weekend on Saturday, facing No. 12 BYU at 12 p.m. (Pacific) in the Smith Fieldhouse. Portland defeated the then-No. 11 Cougars in five sets earlier this season at the Chiles Center.