PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland and Washington State fought for the Portland North Marriott Invite title on Friday night in the Chiles Center, with the Cougars overcoming the Pilots in three sets. The Cougars won by scores of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-17.
 
Senior Shayla Hoeft led the Pilots in kills with nine, with a .200 hitting percentage. Junior Kellie Hughes had 19 assists, while senior Katie Barker had five total blocks and four kills.  
 
Portland (3-2) came out in the first set to a 3-0 run, featuring two kills from junior Kassidy Naone.  The Cougars tied the score repeatedly, as the score continued to go back and forth across the net. The Pilots gained the lead at 13-12, thanks to a kill from sophomore Claire Forrest. The Cougars retook the lead, and finish strong to take the first set 25-17.
 
The second set began with a Cougar run, as they came out to a 10-4 lead. The Pilots responded quickly, going on a 4-0 run capped with a service ace from Naone. Portland went go on to tie the second set at 12-12 thanks to a WSU attacking error, but were unable to gain the lead and fell 25-17 in the second set to the Cougars.
Riding their momentum, Washington State once again begin the set with a 6-3 run to take the early lead. Portland continued to refuse to allow the Cougars to gain a large lead, getting to 8-11 thanks to a service error from Washington State. The Cougars remained steady, and complete the third set victory with a set score of 25-17.
 
The Pilots will close the weekend tomorrow afternoon, as they face Utah State in the final match of the Portland North Marriott Invite at 12:30 p.m. at the Chiles Center.