LOS ANGELES, Calif---Loyola Marymount prevailed 3-0 over the Pilots in a West Coast Conference volleyball match at Gersten Pavilion on Tuesday evening, claiming the game with set scores of 25-20, 25-23, and 25-12.
 
Jiana Lawson, Jayde Harris, and Charity Bradley provided five kills each, and Noelani Helm came up with four kills, eight assists and nine digs for the Portland side. Gabby Quach registered a team-high 10 assists, Alyssa Muraoka added nine more digs, and Chelsey Harmon produced six blocks on the night.
 
LMU jumped out to a 5-2 lead to open the contest, but kills from Lawson and Bradley would keep the Pilots within two. The Lions stretched their lead to four up 10-6, and a few more scores in the next rallies forced Portland to call timeout. That's when Helm and Chelsey Harmon sparked a 6-1 Pilots run coming out of the break, teaming up for a block at the net before Helm converted back-to-back kills and Harmon scored another to bring the visitors back within three. The Lions extended their margin to as many as seven shortly following, until another Pilots run—fueled by a Grace Zilbert ace and back-to-back Harris kills—made the score 22-20 LMU near the end of the frame. But the Lions rallied after that, sealing the set to go ahead 1-0 on the match.
 
Harmon and Harris began set two with a stuff at the net, and Emma Swett contributed a score and a solo block before a kill from Bradley drew the frame at 5s. A Lawson service ace and a Harmon kill pushed the Pilots in front by one at 9-8, and Bradley scored again soon after to hand the team in black a two-point advantage. LMU managed to answer with a solid run of their own, finding themselves ahead by five at 21-16. Moments later, a 5-1 Portland run—including a Bradley kill and Lawson ace—brought the Pilots back within one. Muraoka sent over a crucial kill to tie it 23-23 late in the set, but the Lions would come out on top for a 2-0 edge overall.
 
Lawson, Harris, and Harmon executed attacks to begin the third installment, but LMU was able to capitalize on their momentum throughout the frame to close out the match.
 
This marks the end of the 2021 regular season for the Pilots, and the second year under the guidance of head coach Megan Burton. The Portland juniors each finish the year with new single-season records, as Jayde Harris notches a team-high 261 kills, Noelani Helm nabs 416 assists, and Grace Zilbert held down the Portland defense with 231 digs.