IRVINE, CA – Taina Kaauwai notched 16 kills with a .517 hitting percentage to help carry the Portland Pilots to a five-set victory (25-18, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 17-15) over the Idaho State Bengals Thursday at Crawford Hall.
The non-conference win improved Portland's overall record to 4-0 on the season, marking the Pilots' first 4-0 season start since 2018.
The Pilots were led by a double-double from Maui Robins, who registered 17 kills and 18 digs on the day. Elin Larsson also added 17 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Tinoa Woodward-Hart contributed with 15 digs to go with six blocks from Nevaeh Bray.
Game Notes
» Portland had four players in double figures in kills: Maui Robins (17), Elin Larsson (17), Taina Kaauwai (16) and Lia Hawken (10).
» Portland had three players in double figures in digs: Maui Robins (18), Tinoa Woodward-Hart (15) and Havannah Hoeft (12).
» Larsson, Kaauwai, and Hawken recorded season-highs in kills, while Robins and Hoeft posted season-highs in digs.
» Taina Kaauwai was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating 16 kills while hitting .517.
» Havannah Hoeft and Maui Robins each had a team-high two aces in the win.
» Maui Robins registered a double-double with 17 kills and 18 digs
» Maui Robins and Elin Larsson had a match-high 17 kills for Portland.
» Portland got a match-high 18 digs from Maui Robins.
» Portland attackers were helped by a match-high 50 assists from Havannah Hoeft.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Pilots grabbed control on the first point and never trailed to secure the first set 25-18. Portland led by 13 points at 20-7 before finishing off the set, collecting 18 kills in the process. Portland also supplemented their offense with three aces in the opening set.
SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Portland put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-22 victory in set number two. The Pilots survived a back-and-forth set to win in a set that featured five lead changes and was tied six times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way. The Portland offense also got a boost from three aces in the set.
SET 3 | Portland couldn't finish off the sweep, dropping the third set to make their lead two sets to one in the match. The Pilots fell in a tough set 25-17. Portland trailed by as many as eight points as Idaho State grabbed the advantage for good at 6-5 in a set that was knotted up three times before the Bengals took over the lead.
SET 4 | Portland then dropped their second straight set 25-21 to bring the match level at two sets apiece. The Pilots trailed by eight points as Idaho State grabbed the advantage at 10-9 and Portland was never able to recover in a set that was knotted up five times before the Bengals took over the lead.
SET 5 | Portland required five sets to take the match and finished off their victory with a 17-15 fifth-set win. The Pilots grabbed the fifth set with the help of a solid performance on the attacking side. Portland put together a .346 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set win. After the lead changed hands four times, the Pilots took control for good at 16-15 and rode that advantage to victory.
