PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots came back from being down 2-0 to force a fifth and final set, ultimately falling to the San Diego Toreros at the Chiles Center on Saturday afternoon. The Pilots would fall to the Toreros with set scores of 12-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20, and 4-15.

"We are proud of the way we executed for most of the match," head coach Jeff Baxter said post-match. "Our players battled with a very good USD team." 
 
Junior Katie Barker led the Pilots (16-7, 4-7 WCC) through their comeback, leading the team in kills (14), total blocks (eight) and points (19). Sophomore Izzy Guzik had a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs, while sophomore Liz Reich had 11 kills and five total blocks.
 
As the first set unfolded, the Toreros (13-9, 10-2 WCC) separated themselves with a 4-0 run to break through the back and forth point exchanges to push their lead to 12-5. The Pilots refused to give in, featuring sophomore McKenzie Schwan diving into the stands to save a play. The Toreros would weather the storm, taking the set at 25-12.
 
The Pilots would come out in the second set seeking redemption, opening the set with a 3-0 run. Reich was crucial to the Pilots early success: she had four of her 11 kills to make the 8-6 Pilots. The Toreros would make a comeback, securing the lead and holding it the rest of the way as San Diego won the second set at 25-20.
 
In the third set, it was Katie Barker's turn to lead the Pilots to an early lead: she had the Pilots first three points of the set, leading them to an 11-5 lead. She would cap off her wonderful set the same we she began it, having three straight kills to take the third set, the score 25-19.
 
With the match's momentum swinging purple, the Pilots came out once again to take the early lead, holding it until a 3-0 Torero run made the score 11-12 San Diego. Not to be denied, the Pilots went on a 10-3 run featuring three kills and a block by senior Reghan Pukis to force a fifth and final set, taking it at 25-20.
 
Coming out in the fifth set, the Toreros sought to end any rumblings of a comeback, finishing the fifth set on a 6-0 run to take it at 4-15.
 
The Pilots return to the road next week, playing Santa Clara (6-17, 1-10 WCC) on Thursday at 7:00 PM, and San Francisco (8-15, 1-11 WCC) on Saturday at noon.