FRESNO, Calif. – Another monster performance from senior OH Pati Anae led the Vikings to a four-set win over DePaul Saturday morning at the Bulldog Showdown in Fresno, Calif.
 
Portland State (4-2 overall) took the first two sets by scores of 25-16 and 25-23. DePaul (3-3) took a marathon third set, 29-27, before the Vikings came back with a 25-22 win in the fourth to take the match. Portland State has had trouble finishing off matches in straight sets. The Vikings have won the first two sets before dropping the third in three of their four wins this season.
 
Anae led all players with 24 kills in the match along with 10 digs for her second double-double of the season. She hit .288 for the match with a season high three aces. Anae has recorded double-digit kills in all six matches this season for the Vikings and has now recorded 20-plus kills for the third time, second straight. She became the first Viking with back-to-back 20-plus kill matches since Jaklyn Wheeler did it to start the 2012 season.
 
Sophomore OH Jenna Mullen posted her fourth double-digit kill performance of the year, third straight, with 15 kills Saturday. Junior S Erin Clark posted her second consecutive double-double with 50 assists, matching her career high set Friday against Portland, along with 11 digs.
 
Sophomore MB Katy Wilson has been more involved over the past couple of matches. She posted 10 kills, while hitting .333. It was her second straight double-digit kill performance.
 
The opening frame against the Blue Demons stayed closed through the majority of the set. Up 18-16 in the set, Portland State rattled off seven straight points behind the service of Tasha Bojanic to close out the set. Bojanic came up with a big ace for the final point.
 
The second set played a lot closer than the first. The Vikings maintained a one-point lead late in the set before Mullen finished out the set with sixth kill of the set, giving the Vikings the 25-23 win.
 
After taking the first two sets, the Vikings dropped a marathon third set 29-27. The Vikings had a pair of match points up 24-22 but were unable to close it out. Portland State fought off a pair of set points before dropping the set. Anae tallied 11 of her 24 kills in the set.
 
Portland State came out and took a commanding 17-10 lead midway through the fourth set. DePaul was able to pull the set to within three at 20-17 before the Vikings scored twice to go up 22-17. They went on to take the set with a 25-22 win in the fourth.
 
Portland State finished the Bulldog Showdown 2-1, finishing second. Anae and Bojanic were both named to the All-Tournament team.
 
Portland State is on the road again next week for three matches at the USU Invitational hosted by Utah State in Logan, Utah. The Vikings will take on Southeastern Louisiana, Utah State, and UC Riverside next week.
 
NOTES:
• Pati Anae became the first Viking with back-to-back 20-kill matches since Jaklyn Wheeler did it to start the season in 2012.
• Portland State has won the first two sets before dropping the third in three of their four wins this season.
• Erin Clark posted back-to-back double-double (50 assists, 11 digs) for the first time this season.
• Portland State finished second at the Bulldog Showdown.
• Anae and Tasha Bojanic were named to the Bulldog Showdown All-Tournament team.