PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State gave third-ranked Washington all they could handle early on but eventually ran out of steam as the Huskies swept the Vikings at the Northwest Challenge on Saturday evening.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-15, 25-15.
The Vikings came out of the gate hitting on all cylinders and led 12-9 in front of a near soldout gym. With their fans behind them, Portland State didn't appear fazed by one of the nation's top teams.
Washington (6-0) countered with four-straight points to take a 13-12 lead, before the Viks scored back-to-back points to go back up. But after a kill by tournament MVP Becky Perry and a PSU attack error, Washington went back in front and would only trail once the rest of the way.
The 22 points that the Viks put up in set one was the most that Washington has allowed through six matches in 2009. The Huskies hit just .167 in the opening stanza, their lowest attack percentage to date.
Perry led the UW with 10 kills, Kindra Carlson had eight more and Tamari Miyashiro tallied 17 digs.
Perry and Miyashiro are both returning All-Americans and were joined on the all-tournament team by freshman Kelcey Dunaway, who led the tournament in blocks with 19.
Portland State's Whitney Phillips and Nique Fradella were also all-tournament picks. Phillips registered a match-high 12 kills, while Fradella had 29 assists.
The Huskies wound up hitting .315 to the Vikings .128.
The Vikings (2-4) return to action next weekend when they travel to Reno for the AT&T Invitational, Sept. 12-13.
MATCH NOTES: Nicole Bateham had 11 digs for the Viks ... Tracy Vargas registered six kills and a .333 attack percentage for PSU.
NORTHWEST CHALLENGE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMBecky Perry, Jr., OH, Washington (MVP)
Tamari Miyashiro, Sr., L, Washington
Kelcey Dunaway, Fr., MB, Washington
Nique Fradella, Sr., S, Portland State
Whitney Phillips, Jr., OH, Portland State
Layne Brosky, Sr., OH, Gonzaga
Alisha Young, Jr., OH, Boise State
