SEATTLE, Wash.--- After a long time off since their last competition, the Pilots beach volleyball team made their return to the sand at Alki Beach on Friday, and faced tough battles with Washington, No. 15 Hawai'i, and Oregon. The Huskies, the Rainbow Wahine, and the Ducks each prevailed over Portland by 5-0 scores on day one of the weekend tournament.
 
In the first match-up of the day against Washington, the Pilots 5s of Liz Reich and Krysten Bugarin won their first set by a 21-18 margin, before the Husky hosts of Callie Weber and Cassidy Schilling came back to force a third frame and eventually secure the overall win.
 
15th-ranked Hawai'i put on a dominating performance, overcoming each of the Portland pairs in two sets.
 
In the final match of the day against Oregon, the Portland 1s of Shayla Hoeft and Alycia Wodke came back from a first set deficit to win a very close second set which needed several extra points, finally taking it at 29-27. Set three remained closely contested, and the Duck partners would just edge Hoeft and Wodke by a slim score to win the match 2-1.
 
The Portland 3s of Jayde Harris and Grace Zilbert claimed a first set win in their match against the Ducks at 21-17, although the Oregon pair of Bea Wetton and Ashley Schroeder would rally back, needing all three frames to come out on top.
 
"After three hard fought matches against tough teams, we are ready to bounce back and battle again tomorrow morning for a spot in the finals," said head coach Dylan Hamilton. "We learned a lot from and about our opponents, and we are excited to see growth at all of our slots, 1-6. We are looking for yet another opportunity to play against stiff competition in the morning."
 
The Pilots will continue tournament play in Seattle tomorrow, facing 1-seed Hawai'i once more in the knockout stage, beginning at 10 a.m. 2-seed Washington and 3-seed Oregon will also play each other again ahead of the last round of action, with the third-place match set for 1 p.m. and the championship match scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
 
Husky Invitational
April 16, 2021
Seattle, Wash.
 
Washington 5, Portland 0
1. McPherson/ Loreen(UW) def. Hoeft/ Wodke (UP) - 21- 12, 21-17
2. Robinson/ Niece (UW) def. Helm/ Harris (UP) - 22-20, 21-11
3. Dahl/ Petersen (UW) def. Hughes/Nolan (UP)- 21-11, 21-9
4. Shook/ Yerex (UW) def. Hirahara/ Zilbert (UP) - 21-18, 21- 13 
5. Weber/ Schilling (UW) def. Reich/ Bugarin (UP) - 21-18, 17- 21, 15- 8
 
Order of finish: 3, 4, 2, 1, 5
 
No. 15 Hawai'i 5, Portland 0
1. Napolean/ Santer (UH) def. Hoeft/ Wodke (UP) - 21-15, 21-7
2.  Van Sickle/ Igiede(UH) def. Helm/Hughes (UP) - 21-9, 21-10
3. Kekauoha/Kruse(UH) def. Harris/Zilbert (UP) - 21-9, 21-14
4. Huddelston/Glagau(UH) def. Hirahara/Nolan (UP) - 21-11, 21-11
5. Maidment/ Russo(UH) def. Reich/ Bugarin (UP) - 21-10, 21-8
 
Order of finish: 5,3,2,4,1
 
Portland 0, Oregon 5
1. Wallace/LaFollette(UO) def. Hoeft/ Wodke (UP) - 21-16, 27-29, 15-13
2. Cole/Lima (UO) def. Helm/Hughes(UP) -  21-12, 21-12
3. Wetton/Schroeder(UO) def. Harris/Zilbert(UP) - 17-21, 21-10, 15-6
4. Hopen/ Siegrist(UO) def. Hirahara/Nolan(UP) - 21-13, 21-16
5. Rotshtein/ Plevin(UO) def. Reich/ Bugarin(UP) - 21-15, 21-10
 
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1