FRESNO, Calif. --- The DePaul Blue Demons defeated the Pilots 3-1 on the opening day of the Bulldog Showdown Friday afternoon at the Save Mart Center. DePaul overcame the Pilots in the first set 25-19, with the Pilots rallying to take the second 25-20. DePaul then took the third and fourth sets, 25-16 and 25-17 respectively, to finish the match. 
 
Portland State then held off the Pilots 3-1 in the night cap.
 
DePaul jumped ahead early in the first set, scoring the game's first five points. The Pilots rallied late with an 8-2 run, which was capped with an ace from Monica Gajda that made the score 23-19. DePaul answered by scoring the final two points and prevailing 25-19. 
 
Portland and DePaul fought back and forth for most of the second set, never pulling away from each other by more than two points. After being tied 17-17, consecutive service aces from Gajda and key kills from Katie Sullivan, Sarah Savoca, and Reghan Pukis, allowed the Pilots to surge ahead. Sullivan and an error from DePaul then allowed the Pilots to even the match with a 25-20 win.
 
Pilots tried to rally in the fourth set after DePaul took the third set for a 2-1 lead. DePaul again took an early lead, but the Pilots tried to even up the score with several kills. Hannah Troutman and Sullivan pieced together a handful of kills to bring the Pilots within three points midway through the set, but the Blue Demons held on to win the set and the match 3-1.
 
Sullivan led the Pilots with 10 kills and a .467 hitting percentage, while Troutman recorded nine kills total for the match. Gajda had four total aces for the match, with Cali Thompson notching 29 assists.
 
Later in the afternoon, the Pilots took on Portland State as the third match of the tournament. The Pilots hung around during the first two sets, but the Vikings ultimately prevailed 25-22 and 25-21. Portland rebounded to win the third set 25-23. Troutman and Savoca led the Pilots with five and four kills respectively, and the team had a total of four service aces.
 
But the crosstown rivals held on to win the last set 25-16, taking the match.
 
Troutman again led the Pilots with a total of 9 kills and a pair of service aces from Gajda and Robinson. The Pilots will be back in action next weekend at home for their North Harbor Marriot Invitational.