SANTA CLARA, Calif.---The Pilots made some strong runs, but in the end it was Santa Clara coming out with a 3-0 win in a second West Coast Conference volleyball match held at Leavey Center on Tuesday afternoon, to split the series 1-1. The Broncos won the match with set scores of 25-18, 25-22, and 26-24.
 
The Pilots' seniors led most categories in the match, with Liz Reich producing 10 kills to lead all Pilots' scorers, Kellie Hughes providing 18 assists, and Carey Williams contributing 11 digs for the visiting side.
 
Santa Clara (2-4, 2-4 WCC) got off to a hot start in set one with two sizable runs giving them a 15-6 lead over Portland (2-10, 2-10 WCC). A Hughes service ace and a kill from Reich looked to spark a Pilots comeback, but the Broncos would maintain their advantage until the end of the set, even after answering attacks from freshman Nevaeh Bray and junior Claire Forrest.
 
The Broncos managed to create another gap in the beginning of set two, getting out to an early 7-2 lead. A score from Mia Wesley and back-to-back points from Jiana Lawson would bring the Pilots within two, but another SCU run soon after handed the Broncos a 18-11 margin. Wesley would score twice more for the Pilots, but Santa Clara kept their distance, yet needed four chances at set point before closing out the set.
 
Set three became a contest as both sides traded points, but the Pilots found the first significant lead of the frame at 10-7, including kills from Wesley and Bray and another ace from Hughes. Portland held on to the lead following two more scores from Reich, and would push the gap to as many as four after a kill and an ace from Chelsey Harmon. The Pilots looked to control the set after Bray made it 20-17, until moments later, a 6-1 Broncos run brought SCU back out front. Lawson drilled a shot to level the score at 23-23 and give the Pilots another chance to steal the win, but in the end it was Santa Clara securing the match after three sets.
 
"We knew it would be another tough battle today against the Broncos," said head coach Megan Burton. "Santa Clara won the three phases of the game we talk about in our gym. Serve, pass and offense. They responded well today and put a lot of pressure on our serve receive."
 
"This season the quick turnaround is brutal on teams having to play back to back, sometimes less than 24 hours in between matches. The fatigue is a definite factor and I think we have responded well this season, especially on road trips. But today Santa Clara played better volleyball than we did for longer periods of time and they came out on top. Looking forward, we're excited to be able to finish the rest of conference matches at home. It will be nice to compete beck in Chiles this weekend."
 
The Pilots will return home to host the Pepperdine Waves later this week, for two matches on Friday and Saturday, both starting at 1:00 p.m.