EL SEGUNDO, Calif.---The Pilots beach volleyball team closed out the 2021 season on Friday at Dockweiler Beach with two West Coast Conference Championship match-ups against 13th-ranked Pepperdine and San Francisco. The Waves topped the Pilots by a 5-0 score in the first match of the day, and the Dons just overcame Portland 3-2 in the Pilots' final contest of the year.
 
The Portland 2's of Noelani Helm and Kellie Hughes won a close first set against the Pepperdine pair of Tanner Pemberton and Greta Corti, but the Waves' pair would battle back in the second to force a final frame and eventually seal the 2-1 win overall.
 
In the Pilots' second match against San Francisco, Portland 3's pair Jayde Harris and Grace Zilbert produced a sweep against a Dons duo, taking the match with set scores of 21-16 and 21-18.
 
Liz Reich and Krysten Bugarin collected a second sweep against USF, claiming their match with 21-15 and 21-14 results.
 
"After a tough first round loss to nationally ranked Pepperdine, I was proud of how we responded with a hard fought match against USF," said head coach Dylan Hamilton. "We battled to the end, and demonstrated exceptional resilience and toughness in the face of a difficult albeit shortened season."
 
"I am excited for our growth in future seasons, and am grateful to have had the opportunity to coach this tough, persistent group of young women," said Hamilton. "Thank you to our seniors who have made an everlasting mark on this program, and will be leaving it in a much better place than when they began their careers."
 
The WCC Championships marked the final appearances for this year's two seniors, the Portland 1's of Shayla Hoeft and Alycia Wodke. The two were the Pilots' most dominant pair this spring, finishing with four dual wins on the season.
 
No. 13 Pepperdine 5, Portland 0
1. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Catie Cronister (USF) def. Alycia Wodke/Shayla Hoeft (POR): 21-19, 21-16
2. Tanner Pemberton/Greta Corti (USF) def. Noe Helm/Kellie Hughes (POR): 21-19, 20-22, 15-9
3. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF) def. Jayde Harris/Grace Zilbert (POR): 16-21, 18-21
4. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF) def. Malu Hirahara/Kendall Nolan (POR): 22-20, 21-13
5. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF) def. Liz Reich/Krysten Bugarin (POR): 15-21, 14-21
 
San Francisco 3, Portland 2
1. Anna Dalla Vecchia/Catie Cronister (USF) def. Alycia Wodke/Shayla Hoeft (POR): 21-19, 21-16
2. Tanner Pemberton/Greta Corti (USF) def. Noe Helm/Kellie Hughes (POR): 21-19, 20-22, 15-9
3. Jayde Harris/Grace Zilbert (POR) def. Sophie Sydenham/Katie Wagstaff (USF): 21-16, 21-18
4. Bruna Correa/Serafina Rivera (USF) def. Malu Hirahara/Kendall Nolan (POR): 22-20, 21-13
5. Liz Reich/Krysten Bugarin (POR) def. Sara Denham/Jessica Eanes (USF): 21-15, 21-14