PEPPERDINE WAVES
(6-7, 2-0 WCC)
 
Day: Thursday
Date: Oct. 03, 2019
Place: Malibu, Calif. 
Time: 7:00 P.M.
Facility: Firestone Fieldhouse
Video: portlandpilots.com
Stats: portlandpilots.com
 
POR vs. PEPP
Overall Series: 6-58
H: 4-28 • A: 2-30 • N: 0-0
Last: @PEPP 3, POR 1 (11.17.18)

LMU LIONS
(8-6, 2-0 WCC)
 
Day: Saturday
Date: Oct. 05, 2019
Place: Los Angeles, Calif. 
Time: 12:00 P.M.
Facility: Gersten Pavilion
Video: portlandpilots.com
Stats: portlandpilots.com
 
POR vs. LMU
Overall Series: 10-55
H: 8-25 • A: 2-31 • N: 0-2
Last: @LMU 3, POR 0 (11.15.18)

THIS WEEK
• The Pilots go on their first WCC road trip of the season, flying south to California for matches against Pepperdine and LMU.
• Stats and Video for both matches can be found at portlandpilots.com
 
LAST WEEK
 • The Pilots hosted San Diego and BYU to begin conference play, and fell to both squads in three sets.
• Senior Shayla Hoeft led the Pilots in kills with 19, while senior Katie Barker had six blocks and eight digs.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS
• This is Jeff Baxter's second season as head coach of the Pilots, coming off Portland's first 20-win season and postseason appearance in program history.
• Portland's ability to serve up aces has been huge to their early success: The Pilots rank 4th in the NCAA in aces per set (2.10), placing them first in the WCC.
• Freshman Grace Zilbert has a been the catalyst of the Pilots serving ability, ranking 47th in the country in aces per set (0.46). Nine matches into her collegiate career, she already has two five-ace matches. 
• Junior Kellie Hughes has made significant strides this season, with Hughes ranking 35th in the country in assists per set (10.58). Within the West Coast Conference, Hughes ranks 1st in assists per set and total assists (508).
• In the WCC, the Pilots are 1st in digs per set (14.96) and team service aces (101). Individually, junior Carey Williams has led the way defensively, ranking 1st in the conference in digs per set (4.69) and total digs (225).
• Three Pilots earned All-Tournament honors at the Springhill Suites Invitational, including MVP Senior Shayla Hoeft (40 kills, four blocks), Hughes (93 assists) and freshman Grace Zilbert (seven aces, 13 digs).
• For their efforts in the Portland North Marriott Invite, Hoeft and Williams were nominated to the All-Tournament Team. Hoeft had 43 kills, while Williams had 59 digs and 12 assists.
• The Pilots returned nine letterwinners from the 2018 season, including 2018 All-WCC Honorable Mention senior Katie Barker.
• The program welcomed three true freshman to The Bluff this summer, as well two transfers from the University of Boise State and Seton Hall University, respectively.
• Sophomore transfers Jessie Brigham & Claire Forrest bring experience to the squad: Brigham led the BSU Broncos in digs in 2018 with 356, while Forrest notched two matches with 10 kills as a Pirate, including a career-high 11 kills against VCU.
• Portland's freshmen class is made up of Zilbert, Noelani Helm and Jayde Harris, with all three already contributing this season. 
• To replace former assistant coaches Betsy Sedlak and Rick Moller departures from the program, Baxter brought in former University of Nevada assistant coach Megan Burton and former University of Washington player Justice Magraw.
 • The Pilots saw two seniors graduate last spring in Reghan Pukis and Lauren Naatz.
• Portland was picked to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference Preseason Poll, jumping two spots from the previous poll.
• Senior middle blocker Katie Barker seeks to improve on her coming out party as a junior: she was nominated to the 2018 All-WCC Honorable Mention squad and had 128 block assists, 143 total blocks and a .334 hitting percentage, which were 1st, 2nd and 5th most in single season history for the Pilots, respectively.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
• Pepperdine is coming off a miraculous 2018 campaign, featuring a 22-9 record and an NCAA tourney appearance after having to vacate their home court because of the Paradise wildfire.
• Despite a 6-7 record, they're coming off two wins to begin conference play against Santa Clara & San Francisco. They're led by Shannon Scully, who leads the Waves in kills (172) & second in digs (167).
• Loyola Marymount is third in the WCC standings, and claimed victories against Santa Clara & USF last weekend.
• The Lions are 37th in aces per set (1.67) & 43rd in assists per set (12.58). Senior Tess Reid will be the Lion to watch, who was named to the AVCA Division I All American Team in 2018. She leads her squad in assists (427) and is second in digs (89).