PORLTAND, Ore. --- The Pacific Tigers escaped the Chiles Center with a 3-2 victory over the Portland Pilots, to open conference play Thursday night in the Chiles Center. The Pilots almost came back from a two set deficit with scores of 20-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, and 9-15.

Though both teams fought to the final points of the first and second sets, Pacific (6-6, 1-0) ultimately claimed both victories to start the match ahead 2-0. The Pilots (9-4, 0-1) responded in the third set by jumping ahead 7-3, led by two kills and an ace from Troutman, before Pacific fought back to make it 7-7. Still tied at 13-13, Reich produced a kill and added a block with Naone to extend the Pilots lead by two. Troutman continued to come up big with another kill and a block with Barker to push the Pilots into the final points. Portland then finished off the set with another short run claiming the third set 25-22.  

Again taking the initial lead in the fourth set at 12-9, the Pilots continued to pull away from Pacific with kills from Troutman and Reich. As Portland extended their lead to 18-12 with another kill from Reich, along with kills from Troutman and freshman Kassidy Naone, Pacific took a timeout attempting to end the Pilots momentum. Naone and Barker continued to power through by keeping the Portland energy, taking the next point with a block. Pacific fought to contain the Pilots, but Portland sealed the set with a five-point run finishing ahead 25-17, and leveling the match.  

In the final set, the Tigers fought to push past the Pilots set to start 6-2. Troutman, Reich, and Naone broke up Pacific points with kills, but Emily Baptista came up with a kill and a block with Janie Feldsher to bring the Tigers within the final points. Kaitlyn Lines finalized the set and match with the last kill ending with a score of 15-9. 

Troutman led with night with a double-double of 20 kills and 21 digs. Senior Morgan Robinson, freshman Carey Williams, sophomore Cali Thompson, and junior Lauren Naatz each had double-digit digs on the night with 26, 13, 13, and 10, respectively. Thompson also had 41 assists.  

The Pilots will continue their first weekend of conference play on Saturday at 1 p.m., against the Saint Mary's Gaels.