MOSCOW, Idaho---The Pilots stole a set from Eastern Washington, but in the end it was the Eagles coming out on top 3-1 in Portland's final match at the Idaho Volleyball Classic held at Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. EWU nabbed the game in set scores of 27-25, 18-25, 25-19 and 26-24.
 
Outside hitter Ryann Gregg led the Pilots with 14 kills against the Eagles, Paloma Bowman finished with 21 assists, and Jayde Harris contributed four aces in the match. Junior Grace Zilbert contributed 14 digs for the Portland defense. Junior setter Noelani Helm also registered her second double-double on the year with 10 kills and 20 assists.
 
Set one was close from the start, as both sides traded scores for four separate ties until Eastern Washington (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky) found the game's first two-point gap at 7-5. Portland (2-1, 0-0 WCC) climbed back to even the score at 10s after a kill provided by Harris, and would jump out in front after back to back aces served up by the junior outside hitter. The Pilots led by as many as four at 16-12, but the Eagles managed to find their way back in it and level the score late in the set. Portland stayed within range the whole time, yet in the end EWU would come out on top to take a 1-0 lead into the second frame.
 
It was the Pilots who maintained control in set two from early on, jumping out to a 7-1 lead with kills from Jiana Lawson and Noelani Helm. That gap would extend to seven after two more attacks from Lawson and Gregg set the score at 9-2, and Portland never looked back from that point on to lead by as many as nine in the frame. Helm found the finishing touch on an assist from setter Paloma Bowman to secure the set for the Pilots and match the game 1-1 overall heading into the third frame.
 
The third installment began an even contest with tied scores at 2s, 4s, and 5s, but a 5-0 Eagles run created some separation at 10-5 that the Eagles would hold on to throughout the set for the 2-1 advantage on the match.
 
The Pilots started set four with three unanswered scores including back to back Bowman aces, and stayed out in front through the middle of the frame after producing two separate 4-0 runs. Eastern Washington eventually built their way back in it, and would need extra scores to overcome the Pilots in four sets.
 
"Eastern Washington served well and today we struggled in serve receive," said head coach Megan Burton. "It's hard to beat anyone getting aced 14 times. We showed a lot of fight but need to do a better job of our ball control. This weekend was a great first test for us as a team. We will learn from today and get back to work come Monday. Today wasn't our best but overall it was a good weekend for the Pilots."
 
Bowman and Helm were both selected to the All-Tournament team following the completion of all of the matches over the weekend. Bowman collected a triple-double in kills, assists, and digs in the Pilots' opening game against Nevada, while Helm dished out the most assists of any Portland player over the two-day tournament with 63.
 
Portland closes out the weekend 2-1 with victories over Nevada and Idaho, and will be back in action next week at the Montana State Bobcat Invitational taking place September 3-4.