MONTEREY, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots Beach Volleyball team topped West Coast Conference competitor San Francisco earlier this afternoon in a testing first day of the Monterey Invitational, at the Monterey Bay Park Sand Courts in Calif.

"It was great to see some of the adjustments we put in place following the Oregon matches," said head coach Jeff Baxter. "In our two losses, UCLA and San Jose executed at a higher level for longer periods of time. Overall, we competed at a high level against some very good competition."
 
To start the day the Pilots (3-2) faced No.3 UCLA (9-2). Portland battled tough through 5's sets, but ultimately the Bruins came out on top taking all five matches.
 
The Pilots 1's, 2's, and 4's pairs each swept their duels to earn Portland the 4-1 victory over the Dons (0-8). Senior Monica Gaja, and Sophomore Lauren Naatz completed a three set comeback to clinch a 2-0 lead over USF, just after junior Sarah Savoca and senior Djurdjina Milovic breezed over two sets against Shannon Lamison and Kalia Ashman. Junior Hannah Troutman and redshirt freshman Katie Barker then solidified the 3-1 team win with another victory in the 2's match against Mo Loskam and Camille Arujo. Sophomore Cali Thompson and graduate student Tani Stephens then rounded out the match for the Pilots with a win over the Don's 1's pair.
 
Finishing off the afternoon, Portland took San Jose State (5-3) through three sets in three of the duels. The Spartans closed the day also overcoming the Pilots 5-0.
 
The Pilots will next face Saint Mary's and No.13 Grand Canyon tomorrow in day two of the Monterey Invitational.
 
Results
Monterey Invitational
March 17, 2017
 
Portland vs. No.3 UCLA (5-0)
1's: Cali Thompson/ Tani Stephens: (11-21), (9-21)
2's: Katie Barker/ Hannah Troutman: (10-21), (13-21)
3's: Emma Scanlan/ Morgan Robinson: (21-14), (17-21), (12-15)
4's: Djurdjina Milovic/ Sarah Savoca: (19-21), (14-21)
5's: Monica Gajda/ Lauren Naatz: (15-21), (12-21)
 
Portland vs. San Francisco (4-1)
1's: Cali Thompson/ Tani Stephens: (22-20), (21-17)
2's: Katie Barker/ Hannah Troutman: (21-12), (21-13)
3's: Emma Scanlan/ Morgan Robinson: (17-21), (12-21)
4's: Djurdjina Milovic/ Sarah Savoca: (21-13), (21-9)
5's: Monica Gajda/ Lauren Naatz: (15-21), (21-16), (15-6)
 
Portland vs. San Jose State (5-0)
1's: Cali Thompson/ Tani Stephens: (15-21), (21-23)
2's: Katie Barker/ Hannah Troutman: (21-12), (19-21), (12-15)
3's: Emma Scanlan/ Morgan Robinson: (17-21), (21-19), (11-15)
4's: Djurdjina Milovic/ Sarah Savoca: (21-19), (11-21), (11-15)
5's: Monica Gajda/ Lauren Naatz: (18-21), (12-21)