MORAGA, Calif.---The Pilots came out on top after the first set, but Saint Mary's would rally back on their home court to claim a 3-1 win in a West Coast Conference volleyball match at University Credit Union Pavilion on Thursday evening. The Gaels collected the match with set scores of 24-26, 25-22, 25-21, and 25-20.
 
Sophomore Jiana Lawson produced a solid all-around performance against SMC, converting seven scores on 17 attempts for a .353 attack rate on the night, while also adding five aces, five digs, and 10 block assists against the Gaels.
 
Noelani Helm finished with a double-double of 23 assists and 11 digs, and Jayde Harris tied for a match-high 16 kills in the match. Freshman libero Alyssa Muraoka came up with 15 digs for the Portland defense.
 
It was an even start to open the contest, with neither team leading by more than two until Saint Mary's (12-8, 6-5 WCC) stretched the first gap of the set at 11-7. The home side managed to extend their lead to as many as seven at the middle point of the frame, until back-to-back Lawson aces sparked a newfound energy for the Pilots (5-15, 2-9 WCC) using a kill from Harris to bring them closer at 12-16. A block from Chelsey Harmon and Helm came in the very next rally, Portland would find themselves only down by one after producing three answered score shortly following, provided by a Lawson-Charity Bradley block assist, an ace off the hand of Grace Zilbert, and another Harris kill. Moments later, a 5-1 Pilots run would swing the score back in the visitors' favor to hand them the first chance at set point and force Saint Mary's to call timeout. The Gaels came out of the break to tie the set at 24-all, but Harris and Helm would close out the set with scores right after to give Portland the 1-0 lead after the first frame.
 
Set two started much the same as the first with both team trading points, until the Pilots built a slight edge at 9-6 after Lawson teamed up for a block with Bradley and added another attack for the team in black. Portland remained ahead after producing a 5-1 run shortly following, ahead by seven at 17-10. That's when the Gaels found their scoring touch, generating a massive run to regain the lead late down the wire and secure the first chance at set point. Lawson looked to keep the Pilots in the set after driving home a score and denying the Gaels twice more at the net, pushing Saint Mary's into five chances at set point before they were able to level the match at 1-1 overall.
 
Set three was yet another back and forth battle between the two teams, with the frame staying even all the way to a 17-17 score near the closing points. SMC managed to gain the advantage with five unanswered scores then after, eventually sealing the set for a 2-1 lead going into the fourth frame.
 
Set four became a game of runs after the Pilots answered to Saint Mary's 6-2 start with six scores to retake the lead at 10-9, where it would remain close through the middle. SMC then found a short production of scores to control the edge thereafter, clenching the match for their fourth win in as many games.
 
"I thought we battled tonight with a good Saint Mary's team," said head coach Megan Burton. "We made adjustments from the last time we played the Gaels, and had moments to win the match."
 
"Jayde Harris had another solid night for us and she continues to play a big role for us offensively," said Burton. "We're doing some great things out there, serving well and limiting our unforced errors, and we continue to build our identity as a team and take steps forward with every opportunity. Our team is full of fighters and I'm proud of how they continue to play hard every single match. We'll look to bounce back this weekend against Pacific."
 
The Pilots are back in action in Stockton on Saturday, facing off with Pacific in a match set to begin at 12 p.m.