Portland Pilots (1-7, 1-7 WCC)
@ St. Mary's Gaels (2-6, 2-6 WCC)
 
Day: Tuesday and Wednesday
Date: Feb. 23-24, 2021
Place: Moraga, Calif.
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Facility: University Credit Union Pavilion
Video: portlandpilots.com
Stats: portlandpilots.com
 
POR vs. SMC
Overall Series: 26-44
H: 15-20 • A: 11-24 • N: 0-0
Last: POR 0, @SMC 3 (11.7.19)
 
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots are on the road in Moraga, Calif. for two matches with the St. Mary's Gaels.
• Head coach Megan Burton returns to her alma mater for the first time as head coach of the Pilots. Burton was a four-year starter as a player for the Gaels.
• Live stats and live video for both matches can be found at portlandpilots.com.
 
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH MEGAN BURTON
"It's Game week! We're grateful to have another opportunity to compete and we're ready to head down to Northern California. We're coming off some good volleyball last week and we'll look to use that momentum in these next matches. Our goal continues to be to take care of our side of the net. Control the serve and pass battle and utilize our diverse offense. I'm excited to square off against Rob and the Gaels. They're a solid team and it will be another great WCC battle. Go Pilots!"
 
LAST WEEK
 • The Pilots went 1-1 in back-to-back five set matches with San Francisco.
• In the first match, the Pilots came back after being down twice against the Dons to give them their first victory of the year, and Megan Burton's first at the helm of the program.
• Sophomore setter Noelani Helm collected two double-doubles in the two-match series with 22 assists and 19 digs in the first game and 19 assists and 13 digs in the second.
• Freshman outside hitter Mia Wesley collected her first career double-double in game two against USF with 23 kills and 20 digs.
• Senior setter Kellie Hughes was the third Pilot to register a double-double in the second match, finishing with 23 assists and 12 digs.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS
• Senior Carey Williams leads the WCC in digs this 2020-21 season, averaging 5.45 digs per set.
• Megan Burton was promoted as the head coach of the Pilots volleyball program in January 2020. Aven Lee joined the staff as an assistant coach in March.
• The Pilots return nine letter winners from the 2019 season, including All-WCC Honorable Mention honoree and outside hitter Liz Reich.
• The program welcomed five true freshmen to The Bluff this summer.
• Portland's freshmen class is made up of RS/MB Jiana Lawson, MB Nevaeh Bray, OH Mia Wesley, OH Ryann Gregg, and MB Chelsey Harmon.
• The Pilots saw three seniors graduate last spring in Katie Barker, Shayla Hoeft, and Emma Scanlan.
• Williams is currently the fourth all-time individual career record holder in digs at 1567. Williams currently holds the all-time individual season record in digs per set at 5.45 during this 2020-21 season. Her 534 digs during the 2018 season also places her third all-time for an individual season record.
• True freshman Mia Wesley leads the team in kills to start the 2020-21 season, accumulating 97 so far.
• The Pilots are in fourth place in the WCC this 2020-21 season for digs, averaging 15.30 per set as a team.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
• St. Mary's (2-6, 2-6 WCC) is currently seventh in WCC standings. The Gaels went 1-1 with Gonzaga last week, winning the second match 3-2 over the Bulldogs.
• Elena Baka leads the Gaels in kills this year with 92, while averaging 2.97 per set.
• In their last match against Gonzaga, Gaels Hawley Harrer and Chandler Cowell tied for a team-high 11 kills against the Bulldogs. Abigail Matoso finished with 17 digs, the most of any St. Mary's player.