LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots lost a competitive match to the Loyola Marymount Lions on Thursday night, losing in three sets at the Gersten Pavilion. Despite multiple Pilot rallies, the Lions won the match in three sets with scores of 25-23, 25-15, and 25-15.
 
The Pilots (18-10, WCC 6-10) came back from being down 18-22 in the first set to tie it at 23-23, but were unable to seal the deal as the Lions (19-7, 9-6 WCC) held on to take the first set and rode their momentum to take the next two.
 
Portland junior Izzy Guzik led the Pilots in kills with nine, while sophomore Liz Reich's six kills, .286 hitting percentage and five blocks were crucial to the Pilot rallies. Once again, junior Cali Thompson led the team in assists with 20 and had six digs as well.

The Pilots came out in the first set on fire, going on an early 6-0 run featuring a pair of kills by Reich and Guzik to take the lead at 6-3. The Lions would battle their way back into the set, eventually going on a 5-2 run to take the lead at 17-16. As the Lions extended their lead to 22-18, the Pilots took their last timeout of the first set in attempt to regain composure: it had an immediate effect, resulting in a 5-1 run to tie the set at 23-23.The Lions would weather the storm, taking the first set at 25-23.

Riding their momentum, the Lions would come out in the second set to a 7-3 lead. Despite a 3-0 run, led by two kills by senior Reghan Pukis, to make the score 8-9, LMU would go on multiple 4-0 runs to keep the Pilots at bay. The Lions would go on to take the second set at 25-15.

The third set would prove to be the same as the second, as the Lions took an early lead at 10-6, remained calm through an early Pilot rally, and went on to win the third and final set at 25-15.

The Pilots look to rebound against Pepperdine on Saturday at 11:00 AM. Due to the Woosley fire in the Malibu area, the match will be played at the John Wooden Center on UCLA's campus.