SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots were overcome by No.18 San Diego in three sets in the Jenny Craig Pavilion in a West Coast Conference match, on Saturday afternoon. The Toreros completed two comebacks to claim three sets over the Pilots with scores of 25-21, 24-23, and 25-19.
 
San Diego (13-4, 6-1) took an early three-point lead in the first set, led by kills from Jayden Kennedy. Over the next several points the Pilots (13-7, 4-4) fought to push past the Toreros with a short run headed by a block by senior Hannah Troutman and freshman Carey Williams and a kill from sophomore Katie Barker. Portland continued to extend their lead by four with three kills from freshman Kassidy Naone and an ace from Troutman. USD then produced three blocks to spark a large 10-point run to surpass the Pilots and move towards set point. Though junior Reghan Pukis recorded a kill to break up the Toreros momentum, Kristen Gengenbacher sealed the set with the ace to complete the comeback for USD at 25-21.
 
Both teams battled evenly in the third set before San Diego pulled ahead to a 14-8 lead with two kills from Addie Picha. USD held a four point lead over the Pilots for several points, until Pukis and sophomore Cali Thompson combined a kill and an ace to begin to close the gap. Though the Pilots came within one point of the Toreros, Kennedy and Lauren Fuller helped USD hold on to the second set win with two kills to put San Diego up 2-0 on the match.
 
Portland jumped ahead early in the third set to a 5-1 lead. USD began to close the gap with kills from Kennedy and Kaity Edwards, ultimately leveling the score 12-12 during a four-point run. San Diego continued to push with another run to bring them within the final points of the sets, as Pukis produced two kills within UDS points. Kennedy and Lauren Fuller then secured the set claiming the final two points with kills.
 
Troutman and Barker led the Pilots in kills with nine and eight, respectively. Thompson recorded a double-double with 11 digs and 25 assists.
 
The Pilots will be back in action next Saturday Oct 21, in the Chiles Center, taking on the Gonzaga Bulldogs.