Trailing 12-9 in the final set of the evening, the Pilots turned to a duo of consistent players while staging a spirited comeback. Kaylyn Jones and Maria Clemens, who had 25 and 27 assists for the match, respectively, provided the spark the Pilots needed late. The duo combined to serve up eight points while setting up Jessica Clemens and K.C. Fox a combined eight times in the final set.

Fox led four Pilots with double-digit kills and finished with 17 on the night en route to all-tournament honors. Senior Ashley Grayson added 14 kills and joined Fox as the other Pilot representative on the all-tournament team. Jessica Clemens collected a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs.

Grayson came out firing in the first set, collecting her first kill of the match on the first play and led the Pilots (1-2) to a .371 attack percentage in the set. The Bobcats hit at a .333 clip in the first game, but the Pilots capitalized on two late attack errors and secured a game one victory at 25-20.    

The Bobcats (1-2) managed to hold the Pilots at bay in the second set, however, and seemed to pull away early and ran to a 19-9 advantage behind the strong play of Nicole Grypiuk and Jodeen Rademacher. Several Pilot errors, including a botched serve and two quick time outs, left the Pilots at the mercy of the Bobcats deep into the set. The resilient Pilots put up a fight, but the Bobcats evened the score at one set apiece.

In the third game, Fox demonstrated her senior leadership abilities by serving up nine points in addition to being a perfect 3-for-3 on attacks. Despite having four blocks in the sets, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize and finished with a .154 (8-26) attack percentage with four errors.

Down two sets to one, the Bobcats came through in the clutch to complete an even set sweep of the Pilots in the fourth frame. Taylor Faught, a Bobcat junior also named to the All-Tournament Team, contributed 14 assists in the second set as two Bobcats combined to go 11-for-15 on their attacks, pushing the Pilots to a fifth set. Just like the Bobcats experienced in the third set, the Pilots arms went cold with .128 (12-39) attack percentage and seven attack errors.

The Pilots now return home to the Chiles Center where they open the 2008 home schedule by hosting the Nike Portland Invitational starting Thursday September 4. The tournament begins Thursday with Kansas State playing UC Irvine at 5 p.m. Following the conclusion of that match, Pilot fans will be introduced to the coaching reign of Joe Houck with Portland taking on Arizona State.