Undefeated Pilots top Montana State in home opener
 
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots opened the North Portland Marriott Invite with a win, claiming their first victory at home by defeating Montana State 3-1 in a non-conference volleyball match on Thursday evening at the Chiles Center. The Pilots won in four sets, 25-17, 25-17, 20-25, and 25-15.
 
The Pilots are undefeated so far this season going 4-0, and only have lost two sets combined.

The Pilots started on a 3-0 run to begin the first set, and would soon extend their lead to 7-3, thanks to sophomore Izzy Guzik's three early kills. The Bobcats would soon surge ahead to lead 10-9, but momentum began to shift after a redshirt junior Katie Barker block evened the score at 10-10. That sparked a 6-1 run, and the Pilots never looked back, eventually taking the first set handedly.
 
In the second set, the Bobcats refused to give into the pressure. They took an early lead on the Pilots, but both teams went on runs to keep the match close. After a Portland timeout with the home team trailing 6-8, the Pilots crept their way back into the lead as Guzik and sophomore Liz Reich both dominated with six kills each in the set. The Pilots would once again pull away during the latter half of the set, again winning by a 25-17 margin.
 
Once again, the Bobcats came out aggressively to begin the next set, going on a 4-0 run to lead 7-4. As the third set continued, the Pilots continued to fight and kept it close before the Bobcats took it 25-20.
 
Entering the fourth set, the Pilots sought to regain momentum, and they did it immediately. A 7-0 run allowed the Pilots to jump ahead 11-5, and Portland would seal the win with a set score of 25-15.
 
Senior Reghan Pukis was unstoppable in the fourth, collecting nine kills in final set alone, and she led the Pilots in overall kills with 19.
 
Five different Pilots at least 11 kills, which included a double-double by Izzy Guzik (13 kills, 18 digs). Barker and junior Shayla Hoeft added 11 kills each, and junior Cali Thompson also contributed a double-double (49 assists, 13 digs).
 
The North Portland Marriott Invite continues tomorrow night when the Pilots play the Wyoming Cowgirls at 5:00 PM at the Chiles Center.