SALEM, Ore.---The Portland Pilots beach volleyball team opened play at the Northwest Invitational on Friday, being overcome 5-0 by Boise State before registering a team sweep of Bushnell on the first day of the weekend tournament.
 
Portland's dominant 2s duo of Charity Bradley and Noelani Helm rallied to force a third set against the Broncos' pair of Rorianna Chartier and Sierra Land, but the BSU pair would hold on for the dual win with set scores of 19-21, 21-19, and 15-11.
 
Bradley and Grace Zilbert started off game two with a sweep of the Beacons' 2s of Olivia Peck and Madi Trueblood, securing the Pilots' first team point with set scores of 21-16 and 21-13.
 
The Portland 4s of Keilani Mumolo and Annika Stammberger went to three sets with their Bushnell opposition, coming out on top after a strong performance in the final frame to take the duals dub at 14-21, 21-14, and 15-4.
 
Helm and Sarah Strong easily defeated Bushnell's 1s team of Makenna Northern and Shay Coons, taking the match with scores of 21-8 and 21-16.
 
Taylor Helle and Sophie Lee at the 3s prevailed on Bushnell's pair of Jessica Northcutt and Camille Guerrero by margins of 21-17 and 21-18, and the Pilots' 5s of Kendall Nolan and Lia Hawken earned the squad's final dual victory of the day with marks of 21-16, 17-21 and 15-7.
 
"After a tough loss to a very talented BSU team, I'm excited about how we bounced back to beat Bushnell," said Portland coach Dylan Hamilton. "We're excited to get back at it tomorrow against Corban and Bushnell."
 
The Pilots return to Salem tomorrow, March 12, to take on the Corban Warriors at 11:30 a.m., ahead of a second meeting with Bushnell scheduled to follow at 1 p.m.
 
Boise State 5, Portland 0
1. Erin Martin/Yasmin Tan (BSU) def. Grace Zilbert/Sarah Strong (POR): 21-12, 21-17
2. Rorianna Chartier/Sierra Land (BSU) def. Charity Bradley/Noelani Helm (POR): 19-21, 21-19, 15-11
3. Sharli O'Neil/Kaylee Mejia (BSU) def. Keilani Mumolo/Annika Stammberger (POR): 21-13, 21-14
4. Danielle Boss/Madison Nichols (BSU) def. Sophie Lee/Taylor Helle (POR): 21-14, 21-14
5. Joey Benson/Emilia Guerra-Acuna (BSU) def. Kendall Nolan/Mileina Sniffen (POR): 21-7, 21-9
6. Katie Martin/Alli O'Harra (BSU) def. Talyn Jackson/Krysten Bugarin (POR): 21-9, 21-12*
 
Order of finish: 4,2,1,5,3
 
Portland 5, Bushnell 0
1. Noelani Helm/Sarah Strong (POR) def. Makenna Northern/Shay Coons (BU): 21-8, 21-16
2. Grace Zilbert/Charity Bradley (POR) def. Olivia Peck/Madi Trueblood (BU): 21-16, 21-13
3. Taylor Helle/Sophie Lee (POR) def. Jessica Northcutt/Camille Guerrero (BU): 21-17, 21-18
4. Keilani Mumolo/Annika Stammberger (POR) def. Brooke Silvemail/Anessa Stotts (BU): 14-21, 21-14, 15-4
5. Kendall Nolan/Lia Hawken (POR) def. Halle Neumann/Teja Abbott (BU): 21-16, 17-21, 15-7
6. Krysten Bugrin/Emma Swett (POR) def. Roslyn McLellan/Mai Tomlin (BU): 21-11, 21-17*
 
Order of finish: 2,4,1,3,5
 
*non-counting match