LARAMIE, Wyo. --- The Portland Pilots made an epic comeback in the finale of the Rumbles in the Rockies to overcome tournament host Wyoming 3-2 and take the tournament title to open the 2017 season . The Pilots fought hard through five sets with scores of 18-25, 25-20, 23-25, 29-27, and 15-9.

"I'm proud of our team," said head coach Brent Crouch. "This is a tough environment to play in - loud crowds, elevation, and solid competition. We have a lot of work to do to improve to the level we are capable, but we have a good foundation.  Our outsides Reghan and Hannah really stepped up as this match went on, and our servers became more and more aggressive. I challenged both Katie and Morgan in particular to step up their serving and they absolutely took the challenge and served really tough late in the match."  
 
After the Cowgirls (1-2) took the first set 25-18, Portland answered with a fast start to the second set with a 6-3 lead.  Wyoming responded with a kill from Jackie McBride to bring them back within one of the Pilots, before senior Hannah Troutman and junior Reghan Pukis each registered kills to extend their lead back to 13-10 ahead of the Cowgirls. Pukis and Troutman then recorded an additional three kills bringing the set to 16-10. Senior Sarah Savoca and sophomore Katie Barker added kills of their own in the final points of the set, bringing the score to 22-16 in favor of Portland, and Pukis completed the set with a final kill to even up the match 1-1.


Wyoming then answered by claiming the third set with a score of 25-23, putting the pressure on the Pilots to make a comeback and clinch the fourth set. The Cowgirls started off the fourth set ahead 7-2 before Savoca would register a kill and an ace and Troutman two kills to close the gap. Troutman then led a run of points with two service aces and a kill to move forward past Wyoming for the lead at 10-9. Both teams fought to pull away in the later points, but freshman Liz Reich and Pukis both produced kills to keep the lead at 22-20. The set then pushed into extra points, consisting of both teams fighting for the lead and several reviews of challenged plays by the ref, but Reich put away a powerful kill for the Pilots to move onto the fifth set at 29-27.
 
Troutman opened up the final set with an impressive four kills to make the score 5-3 for Portland. Pukis and Reich continued the Pilots energy adding kills of their own to make it 8-3, as Portland continued to press hard through the last points and take the set at 15-9
 
Pukis led the team in kills with 22 on the night to record a career high, while Troutman, who was named the Tournament MVP, notched a double-double with 19 kills and 14 digs. Reich also recorded kills in the double-digits with 14. Freshman Carey Williams, junior Lauren Naatz, and Robinson had double-digit numbers in digs with 16, 20, and 22, respectively and sophomore Cali Thompson produced 62 assists. Pukis and Williams also landed on the All-Tournament team.
 
The Pilots will next host the North Harbour Marriott Challenge on Sept 1 and 2, facing Fresno State, Alabama State, and Oregon State.