PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots battled in five sets, but ultimately fell in five sets to the Denver Pioneers (22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 8-15). The Pilots drop to 10-5 overall and 3-2 in WCC play.
Kala Chock had a team-high 17 kills for Portland, coming just two shy of her career high. Taina Kaauwai added 14 kills on a .545 hitting percentage while adding two blocks. With her two blocks, Kauuwai moved to ninth all-time for Portland in career blocks. Havannah Hoeft posted a season-high 58 assists and five Pilots total finished with 10 kills or more.
Game Notes
- Chock led the Pilots with 17 kills. She reached 180 kills for the season.
- Kauuwai posted 14 kills as well with a hitting percentage of .545, reaching 150 kills. Her two block assists puts her at 316 total blocks for her career, putting her ninth all-time for Portland.
- Five Pilots finished with 10 kills or more: Chock, Kaauwai, Vanessa Haddock, Lila Krall and Shaylee Stephen.
- With 10 kills each, Haddock and Stephen both set career highs in the category.
- Hoeft posted a team-high 58 assists, a season high.
- Tinoa Woodward-Hart had four aces on the day leading the Pilots.
- Both Chock and Jeryn Hildenbrand had nine digs on the day.
How it Happened
SET 1 | Denver took advantage of Pilot errors, taking the lead early and never ceding that lead. Portland made a push late, scoring four straight to make it 23-21 before the Pioneers pulled away for the win. Chock had six kills in the set to lead Portland while Stephen added two blocks.
SET 2 | The second set was an even match the whole way through, with the lead changing three times and the score being tied nine times. Portland pulled away late, outscoring the Pioneers 6-1 late to make it 22-17. Portland closed it out from there to take the set 25-20. Hoeft picked up 15 assists and Haddock had three block assists, with the Pilots getting three of their seven blocks in the set.
SET 3 | The third set followed the same script as the second, with the game being fairly even with nine ties and three lead changes as well. A quick 4-0 run to make it 24-20 gave Portland the lead late, with the Pilots closing it out at 25-22 to take the set. Hoeft's 16 assists in the set were a match-high for the setter, with Kaauwai posting five kills as well.
SET 4 | Set 4 saw the Pilots battle to the end, but a 4-0 run late from the Pioneers gave them a six-point lead the Pilots couldn't overcome. Haddock posted four kills in the set to lead Portland.
SET 5 | Portland fell behind early in the final set and never gained the lead back. A 4-0 run to make it 11-7 Pioneers. Portland would fall 15-8 to drop the match.
Up Next
The Pilots stay home to host the San Diego Toreros. The two teams play on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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