PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots topped the CSUN Matadors 3-1 in the final match of the Nike Invitational, Saturday afternoon in the Chiles Center. The Pilots fought through four sets, with scores of 25-22, 25-23, 25-10, and 25-23. 

The Pilots (9-3) produced two short point runs in the first set to start ahead 9-5. Moments later freshmen Liz Reich and Kassidy Naone combined for a block and senior Hannah Troutman, a solo block, to keep a four-point lead. Though the Matadors (6-6) tried to keep the set close, junior Reghan Pukis and sophomore Cali Thompson added a kill and an ace push forward to 16-11. Four different Matadors then broke up Portland's momentum with kills, but Troutman answered back with kills of her own to bring the set to its final points. At set point, CSUN made an error into the net to give the Pilots the set win at 25-22.

Even in the second set, the Pilots attempted to break away with a crucial block by Naone and freshman Katie Barker. After a CSUN timeout, Melissa Eaglin closed the deficit for the Matadors, but Barker and Reich responded both times with well-placed kills into the center of the Matadors court to keep the 14-12 lead. CSUN's Lauren Conati then sparked a large nine-to-one run, breaking away from the Pilots with the lead at 21-15. At the final two points, Barker and Troutman ended the Matador's run with back-to back kills, but Williams clinched the final kill for CSUN to take the 25-23 set win.

Portland began the third set by jumping ahead to a 5-1 lead, but CSUN battled back to come within a point of the Pilots. Freshman Carey Williams capped a Portland six-point run with an impressive three kills in a row, extending the lead to 14-7. The Pilots finalized the set 25-10, surging through the last eight points headed by kills from Thompson, Williams, and Reich.
The Matadors came out energized in the final set, starting ahead at 11-4, but Naone put a stop to the Matador offense with two blocks with Barker and Reich, and Troutman added two more points with a kill and an ace to bring Portland within three of CSUN. Barker and Troutman also produced kills to close the gap, bringing the set to 21-20 for the Matadors. Battling for the final points, Troutman completed the comeback securing the final kill to take the set for the Pilots at 25-23.

Troutman led the Pilots with 17 kills. Williams had 10 digs and Thompson 36 assists. Troutman and Thompson were named to All-Tournament team.

The Pilots will start West Coast Conference play next weekend, hosting Pacific and Saint Mary's on Sept 21. and 23 in the Chiles Center.