MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's made easy work of Portland on Thursday night as they swept the Pilots in their second-to-last home match of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SET ONE | The Pilots took the first three points of set one before the Gaels recorded the next four and took their first lead of the night. The teams began trading points back and forth with neither side taking more than a two point lead through the middle of the set. With the set tied 12-12, Saint Mary's went on a 6-1 run to take an 18-14 lead over their opponents, forcing Portland to take the first time out of the match. Following the break, SMC only continued to extend their lead and despite a late run from the Pilots, the Gaels went on to win the set  25-20. Breyan Ashley and Sienna Young led the team in the first set with four kills each while Alosina Thompson was the team-leader in assists with six. Saint Mary's was also able to hold Portland to a .045 clip in the first period.

• SET TWO | SMC began the second set with four consecutive blocks from Aubrey Pitts, each assisted by different team mates (Young, Ashley, Alexsa "Crash" Parker, Elena Baka), to take a 5-2 lead. Shortly after, Saint Mary's pulled out to a nine-point lead from which the Pilots would never recover. For most of the set, the Pilots were not able to score more than a point at a time as they Gaels went on three separate runs of three points or more. Portland came within two points of Saint Mary's late in the set, but it was not enough and the Gaels went on to win 25-21. SMC dominated Portland at the net in the second period as the outblocked their opponent 10 to three through just the first two sets. Pitts, Baka, and O'Sullivan had four blocks each by the end of the period.

• SET THREE | Portland took an early 4-2 lead in the third set but it didn't last long as the Gaels went on a 4-0 run to take the lead for themselves. The teams traded points with neither team going ahead by more than two. In the middle of the set, SMC took a 18-13 advantage and forced the Pilots to take a timeout. Saint Mary's continued to push the offense as they pulled ahead by six points. Portland made a late run to tie the match at 24-24, but despite their best efforts in the final moments, SMC went on to win 27-25.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 2: Baka (11 kills, 20 digs) and Ashley (10 kills, 12 digs) both recorded double-doubles
• 14: The Gaels recorded 14 blocks on Thursday compared to Portland who had six
• 14: Thompson and Parker tied for the team lead with 14 assists apiece
• 3: Ashley tied her previous season-high in service aces with three against the Pilots

UP NEXT

Saint Mary's will play their final regular season home match of the season on Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Alex O'Sullivan, Alexsa "Crash" Parker, Sienna Young, Aubrey Pitts, and assistant coach Albert Ahedo will be honored prior to first serve as a part of senior day celebrations.