PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots volleyball team looks to conclude its historic season on a high note when they host the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Monday night at 5 p.m. in the Chiles Center for their last West Coast Conference match of the year. The Pilots are currently tied for third in the WCC with LMU, and if Portland can hold onto third place it would be the best finish in conference since 1989.

The Pilots enter senior night with a 17-12 overall record, and the 17 wins are the most in a season since 1986. Portland is also 10-7 in the conference, which is easily the best league mark since the Pilots began competing in the WCC in 1987. The previous best for WCC wins for the Pilots was eight, which came back in 1989.
 
The Pilots have won two straight, including their first win ever over Pacific on Saturday. A few weeks ago, the Pilots also made history taking an early lead before upending the No. 7 San Diego Toreros in five sets in San Diego, giving the Toreros their first home loss of the season. The seventh-ranked Toreros are the highest ranked opponent the Pilots have ever defeated. This was just the second win for the Pilots ever in San Diego, with the first coming back in 1987. Portland has won two out of their last three matches against the Toreros.


The Pilots also stunned ranked opponent No. 11 Brigham Young on Oct. 13 in front of a record crowd in the Chiles Center, overwhelming the Cougars in a five-set battle for a 3-2 win. The win was the first ever over BYU for the Pilots and the attendance of 1,113 topped the program's previous best by more than 400 spectators. Portland is the only team in the WCC to defeat both the Cougars and Toreros this season
 
Following the win over BYU, Junior Hannah Troutman earned WCC Volleyball Player of the Week, after averaging 4.00 kills, 3.38 digs and 4.38 point per the Cougars and USD that weekend.
 
Portland has also made several comeback victories this season, with the first coming against in-state rival Oregon State in Corvallis to start the season, and the second at Mississippi State at the Maroon Classic. The team made a remarkable comeback against tournament host Mississippi State to win 3-2, claiming the team title. Katie Sullivan, Cali Thompson, and Maddie Mandon received All-Tournament Honors, while Monica Gajda was awarded best Libero and Troutman was named Tournament MVP.
 
The Pilots third dramatic comeback stunned the Pepperdine Waves 3-2 after Portland fell into a two-set deficit in Malibu. The victory was the second straight win for the Pilots in Malibu after Portland picked up their first win ever over Pepperdine on their home floor last season. Portland then topped the Waves in the Chiles center during their second meeting of conference to notch their first ever season sweep over the Waves.
 
Their final comeback came at USF, giving the Pilots their first ever two-match, road conference weekend sweep since joining the WCC for volleyball in 1989. Portland defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 3-1 earlier that weekend which was their first time ever beating the Broncos in Santa Clara since 1994. 
 
Before tonight's match, the Pilots will honor seniors Katie Sullivan, Brittney Markwith, Monica Gajda, and Djurdjina Milovic as the group is making its final regular season appearance at the Chiles Center.