SANTA CRUZ, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots beach volleyball team won their first match of the young season, defeating the Pacific Tigers 3-2 at the WCC Mid-Season Invitational on Friday, at the Santa Cruz Beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. The Pilots came up short against the Loyola Marymount Lions to begin the day, falling 0-5 in the match.

Against Pacific, Freshman's Jessie Brigham and Sarah Strong won their second-straight pair match with scores of 21-16 and 21-17, while Junior Katie Barker and Sophomore Carey Williams secured their first pair match win with scores of 21-18 and 21-13.

Sophomore Kassidy Naone and Senior Lauren Naatz clinched the Pilots first victory in the fifth and final pair match in convincing fashion, as Naone secured her second dual win with scores of 21-9 and 21-8.
 
The Pilots will now enter the playoff bracket portion of the WCC Mid-Season Invitational, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.
 
WCC Mid-Season Invitational
March 29th, 2019
Results
 
Match 1 vs Loyola Marymount (0-5)
Duals
1. Shayla Hoeft / Morgan Robinson: (12-21), (13-21)
2. Katie Barker / Carey Williams (16-21), (12-21)
3. Reghan Pukis / Emma Scanlan: (7-21), (15-21)
4. Jessie Brigham / Sarah Strong: (8-21), (6-21)
5. Kellie Hughes / Liz Reich (POR): (9-21), (8-21)
 
Match 2 vs Pacific (3-2)
Duals
1. Shayla Hoeft / Morgan Robinson: (18-21), (12-21)
2. Katie Barker / Carey Williams: (21-18), (21-13)
3. Reghan Pukis / Emma Scanlan: (19-21), (21-18), (11-15)
4. Jessie Brigham / Sarah Strong: (21-16), (21-17)
5. Lauren Naatz / Kassidy Naone: (21-9), (21-8)