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PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots came back to beat the Portland State Vikings 3-1 at the Stott Center on Wednesday night. Junior Katie Sullivan proved pivotal for the squad as she recorded 13 kills on a .556 hitting percentage and was a wall at the net with five blocks.
 
Portland (2-1) kept Portland State (0-4) winless on the season with set scores of 12-25, 25-17, 25-21, and 25-23.
 
Portland State used an eight point run to gain control of the first set en route to a 25-12 win. Viking outside hitter Pati Anae served a heavy top spin ball that proved difficult for the Pilot defense to control which allowed the cross town foe to gain the early 15-6 advantage. Portland middle blocker Sullivan had a pair of kills and a solo block on the set, but Portland State did not relinquish the momentum and took the early match lead 1-0.
 
The Pilots rebounded well from the first set and stayed tight with the Vikings before pulling away to win the second set and tie the match up at 1-1. A couple of heads up plays by Hannah Troutman early in the game leveled the score at 9. Portland gained the momentum when Brittney Markwith hit a huge cross court shot to put the Pilots ahead 12-11, and then a short three point run gave the Pilots their largest lead of the night up to that point at 16-12. Troutman registered seven of Portland's 17 kills during the set to lead the Pilots to the set win.  

The third set was a point-for-point battle until the 19-19 score line when, with Monica Gajda serving, the Pilots went on a 6-0 run to set themselves up for set point. The Vikings were able to hold off two Pilot set points, but Sullivan ended the game with a kill to give Portland the match lead 2-1. There were 13 tied scores and five lead changes during this game. Portland's offense was balanced as four players—Troutman, Emily Liger, Sullivan, and Markwith—recorded three kills each during the set.
 
Portland used an early 9-1 run to gain control early in the fourth. Portland State responded with a run of their own to cut the lead to three at 17-14, but a kill by Troutman cut the Vikings momentum and gave the Pilots back the serve. Portland was ahead 21-19 before Djurdjina Milovic set Sullivan up for a pair of kills further separating the two sides and putting the Pilots within sight of the match win. Portland State would not go down easy as they held off three match points, but in the end Portland got to 25 first and claimed the set and match.
 
The Pilots used 47 total kills and 11.5 blocks to top the cross town rival.
 
Portland will next be in action at home on Friday against Nevada at 5:00 p.m. in the opening match of the Portland Classic.