Los Angeles, Calif.---The Pilots volleyball team (0-3, 0-3 WCC) faced the LMU Lions (2-3, 2-3 WCC) in a West Coast Conference match held at Gersten Pavilion on Sunday, resulting in the Lions overcoming Portland 3-0 on the day. Set scores went 25-20, 26-24, 25-13 to LMU.
 
Pilots freshman Jiana Lawson finished the match with a team-high seven kills, Kellie Hughes added 12 assists, and Carey Williams pitched in 21 digs against the Lions.
 
The first set began closely contested as the Pilots and Lions traded points early on and five different Pilots contributed attacks. Each side would gain a one-point edge before it was level again until the Lions went on a 5-0 scoring run pulling them ahead at 18-13 midway through. LMU would hold on to their lead before a kill from freshman Mia Wesley sparked a three point run for the Pilots that closed the margin to 20-17, forcing a Lions timeout. LMU would score two unanswered points shortly after the break and cause Portland to call time, before the Lions closed out the set at 25-20.
 
Wesley would begin the second set with back-to-back service aces for the Pilots to create a two point lead at 4-2, before a 3-0 Lions run put them ahead by one at 5-4. The score would even at 7-7 before freshman Nevaeh Bray and senior Liz Reich produced kills to put the Pilots ahead by one at 9-8, until moments later, LMU found themselves ahead at 13-10. Two Lawson kills and a Williams service ace would bring the Pilots near at 16-15, but that was when the Lions managed to gain another three point edge over Portland at 20-17, and cause a Portland timeout. LMU would keep their lead over the Pilots until Portland scored three unanswered points to bring the game even again at 22-22. A Wesley kill would give the Pilots their first chance at a set point opportunity, but the Lions would take the second set at 26-24.
 
The third set began much the same as Portland showed some resiliency, only allowing the Lions to stay slightly ahead after attacks from Jayde Harris, Wesley and Claire Forrest brought the score to 7-6. The Lions then generated a 5-0 scoring run before answers from Lawson and Forrest made it 12-8. The LMU lead would extend to six at 16-10, and Bray would answer again for Portland, but it wasn't enough to stop another five point swing for the Lions that put them in front by ten, and which they would hold on to seal the win in three sets.

"Today we lost the serve and pass battle," said head coach Megan Burton. "It was tough to find our rhythm offensively. LMU outplayed us today. We will learn from today's match and need to come back better on Tuesday."

The Pilots will be back at LMU for a second match with the Lions on Tuesday, Feb. 9th, starting at 6:00pm.