PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland ended tournament play on Saturday night at the Chiles Center with the Utah Utes overcoming the Pilots 3-0. The Pilots fought hard to keep the sets close, but the Utes finished off the sets with scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 25-20. The win gives the tourney trophy to the Utes, who improve to 7-2 on the year. 
 
The Pilots (3-4) opened the first set, matching the Utes point-for-point until Utah began to pull away with kills from Carly Trueman. Hannah Troutman and Cali Thompson then combined to record three kills for the Pilots, disrupting Utah's momentum and bringing the score to 11-8. Utah responded with a four-point run, fueled by kills from Trueman and Eliza Katoa making it 17-8. Portland then tightened up on defense, which was led by Brittney Markwith, Troutman, Thompson, and Katie Sullivan, to bring the Pilots within three points at 21-18. Utah would hold on to claim the set 25-19. 
 
The Utes started the second set strong, but Reghan Pukis ended their momentum with a big kill to make the score 7-5. Markwith and Sullivan then added two kills to bring the Pilots within two points of Utah. The Pilots continued play by going on a 5-1 run headed by an ace from Monica Gajda and a kill from Troutman to make the score 15-12. Thompson and Pukis continued the comeback with an ace and a powerful kill, and Markwith and Savoca registered a huge block to tiehelp it up 20-20. The Utes responded by claiming four of the five of the set's final six points, sealing the win.
 
Utah then surged ahead 6-0 to start the third set, but Sullivan, Troutman, and Pukis combined for kills, along with an ace from Robinson to make the score 12-9. Then with the Utes leading 20-13, the Pilots went on four-point run to bring the score to 20-17. But Trueman and Adora Anae finished the set with two kills and a score of25-20. 
 
Troutman register another double-double with a total of 11 kills and 11 digs for the match, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Thompson and Gajda each notched 24 assists. Anae registered 27 kills against the Pilots en route to tournament MVP honors. 
 
The Pilots will be back in action next weekend at the Mississippi State Tournament before opening play in the West Coast Conference. First up in Starkville, Miss., is a match-up with Troy on Saturday.