STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Down two sets, the Portland Pilots made a remarkable comeback against tournament host Mississippi State to win 3-2, claiming the Maroon Classic team title in the Newell-Grissom Building on Saturday Night. After being down two sets to begin the match, the Pilots overcame MSU in five with set scores of 23-25, 15-15, 25-22, 25-21, and 15-8.
 
The Pilots began the first set fighting back and forth with the Bulldogs with an even score of 3-3. MSU's Jazymyn Johnson and Emily Hill recorded kills along with a service ace from Cheyenne spell to make a four-point run. Hannah Troutman and Brittney Markwith then combined for a trio of kills to bring the score to catch up with the Bulldogs, but MSU was able to break the Pilots momentum and pull away. UP's Morgan Robinson then registered three kills in a row, which were accompanied by a huge block from Katie Sullivan and Maddy Mandon to make the score 15-13, still in favor of the Bulldogs. Markwith and Cali Thompson followed by registering a kill each to tie it 19-19. Moments later Lauren Naatz notched a service ace, but MSU held on to claim the first set by two points.
 
MSU started out the second set with an eight-point run to surge ahead 8-3. A Robinson kill combined with several Bulldog errors pulled the Pilots within six, and Markwith and Troutman added a kill and ace to keep Portland within reach. Redshirt-freshman Katie Barker then made a huge kill trying to spark a comeback, but MSU again gained momentum and went on another run to win the set 25-15.
 
The Pilots came out in the third set to claim the lead with two kills from Markwith and kills from Thompson and Troutman. Sullivan and Troutman then both recorded two kills each along with another kill from Robinson to increase the lead to 11-6. MSU then went on a six-point comeback run to jump ahead 12-11 . Troutman and Thompson then both registered kills and an ace to tie up the score 14-14, and Sullivan, Troutman, and Thompson kept the momentum going with kills and another ace from Thompson to give the Pilots a 22-19 lead. The Bulldogs then tried to make a comeback, tying the score 22-22, but final kills from Troutman, Robinson, and Mandon claimed the set for the Pilots, 25-22
 
Portland than rallied from behind at the start of the fourth set with Kills from Thompson and Sullivan, and a service ace from Robinson gave the Pilots an 11-8 advantage. After that, two blocks from Sullivan and Thompson along with a huge solo block from Sullivan, and two kills from Troutman helped the Pilots maintain their lead. The Bulldogs then responded by taking a two-point lead, but Portland fought back and forced a 22-22 tie. From there the Pilots capitalized on a handful of Mississippi State errors to claim the fourth set 25-21, setting up a fifth and decisive set.
 
The Pilots got off to a quick start in the final set with kills from Sullivan. Monica Gajda then registered an ace, which was followed by a kill from Robinson that made the score 8-6. Minutes later Sullivan registered a crucial block and a kill to hand the Pilots a commanding 12-7 lead. The Pilot would hold on from there to claim the set, the match and the tournament trophy.
 
Troutman and Sullivan both notched double digit kills for the match with 17 and 10, respectively, while Troutman added 14 digs for the double-double.  Gajda led four Pilots in double figures for digs with a team-high 30. Robinson was just out of double digit range with eight kills, Sullivan registered nine blocks and Thompson had 40 assists for the night. Sullivan, Thompson, and Mandon received All-Tournament Honors, while Gajda was awarded best Libero and Troutman was named Tournament MVP.
 
The Pilots will next start play in the West Coast Conference, taking on Pacific and Saint Mary's next weekend on the road.