DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Portland
Blue Demons Win Opening Weekend Match over Portland
9/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
FRESNO, Calif. - A trip to California started off on a high note for the DePaul volleyball team as the Blue Demons defeated Portland, 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 25-17). After the result, both DePaul and Portland have identical 2-2 season records.
Four different Blue Demons reached double-figure kills with Brittany Maxwell leading the group with 14 over 27 attacks. Caitlyn Coffey and Jasmine King followed behind with 12, while Myah Reed finished with 11.
Colleen Smith secured 36 assists, six digs and five kills in the victory.
A quick start from DePaul gave the Blue Demons a cushion of 6-0 to start the match. DePaul built that lead to ten on four different occasions with the latest being 19-9. Portland battled back in the set to cut the lead to four off a service ace, but DePaul claimed the first set off a kill by Reed on set point.
The second set saw even play between DePaul and Portland with neither side able to gain an advantage larger than two. With the set score at 17-all, Portland began a 4-1 rally and closed the set by securing the last three points to even the match.
Another early lead by DePaul in the fourth set helped pace the Blue Demon attack. After Portland won back-to-back points to cut the lead to three, 12-9, the Blue Demons went on a 5-1 run to take a 17-10 advantage. Trading points late in the set, DePaul fought off a resilient Portland comeback attempt by earning the final point off a Portland attack error, 25-16.
DePaul and Portland matched each other in rallies for the fourth set with neither side gaining a big enough advantage to pull away for the set. A kill for Katie Sullivan of Portland brought the Pilots within three of DePaul, 20-17, but that would be the last point Portland would score. DePaul won the next five points, four due to a Jameson MacPhie kill, and claimed the fourth set and the match to open the weekend.
DePaul returns to the court Friday night to face host Fresno State at 9:30 p.m. CT. Fans can visit the DePaul volleyball schedule page for all live coverage links
