ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- The Portland Pilots volleyball team extended the best start in program history with a 3-1 win over Northern Colorado in their first match of the Lobo Classic in the Johnson Center on Friday morning. The Pilots took three of the four sets with scores of 25-16, 23-25, 25-21, and 25-20.
 
An impressive five Pilots (6-1) recorded double-digit kills in the match, led by Reghan Pukis and Katie Barker with 13. Hannah Troutman added 12, Sarah Savoca registered 11, and Liz Reich finished with 10. Barker's 13 kills mark a career high for the freshman, and she recorded a hitting percentage of .684. Troutman completed her double-double with the addition of 14 digs, and freshman Carey Williams also had 14 digs. Sophomore setter Cali Thompson handed out 51 assists. 

Both teams fought evenly to begin the first set, with neither creating separation until Barker sparked a short run to put the Pilots up by four. Portland held strong from there maintaining an 18-11 lead, before Troutman, a senior, and Pukis, a junior, produced kills to keep the Pilots in control. Barker and Troutman then recorded back-to-back kills to complete the first set 25-16.
 
Despite a three-point lead to start in the second set for the Pilots, UNC (2-5) battled back to even the score 4-4.  The two teams then exchanged several points before the Bears began to break away for a slight 18-15 lead. The freshman Reich, Pukis, and Barker attempted to keep the Pilots within reach, but the Bears held on to claim the second set 25-23.
 
In the third set, Portland again took the initial lead, led by three kills in a row from Pukis, Thompson, and Barker for a five-point run. Kim Weissmann, Kortney Lockey, and Alex Kloehan broke up the momentum with points for UNC, but Troutman pushed the Pilots ahead 16-13 with a kill. With Portland still leading by three moments later, Pukis produced another kill, and Savoca then secured the last points of the set with three kills for a 25-21 win.
 
The Pilots jumped ahead early in the last set to take a 6-0 lead with four kills and an ace. The Bears attempted to slow Portland down with a kill from Weissmann, but the Pilots continued on another run, increasing their lead to 11-2. Later in the set, Portland produced another short run with three kills from Troutman, Reich, and freshman Kassidy Naone to move comfortably ahead to 23-13. The Bears answered with an notable six-point run for a late comeback, but Reich and Barker finished up the final points with kills to seal the set 25-20.
 
The Pilots will next be in action tonight in their second match of the Lobo Classic at 6:30 p.m., against tournament host New Mexico.