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GRAND FORKS, N. D.  – The Portland State women's volleyball team (18-10 overall, 14-3 Big Sky Conference) fell in straight sets Thursday night to North Dakota (14-14, 9-8) by scores of 25-22, 25-21, and 25-17. With the loss the Vikings fall out of first place in the Big Sky and are now one match behind Idaho State, which is 15-2 in conference after defeating Weber State on Wednesday.

Leigh-Ann Haataja led the Vikings with nine kills marking just the third time this season that no Viking reached double-digit kills. Haataja also added a team-high four blocks (1-3) to lead the squad with 12.5 points. Kasimira “Kasi” Clark recorded her fourth 30-plus-dig performance with 31 digs in the match.

Portland State was outhit in the match by a mark of .192-to-.099. The .099 (38-24-142) is the Vikings' lowest hitting percentage this season.

After leading much of the first set, UND took it 25-22. North Dakota took the lead at 7-6 and held it the rest of the way. PSU got within two points several times, but was unable to come back for the set win.

The second set was similar to the first. The lead bounced back and forth through much of the set before North Dakota took the lead at 15-14. Portland State came within three points at 23-20 before North Dakota closed it out 25-21.

North Dakota finished the three set sweep with a 25-17 win in the third after outhitting PSU .175-to-.128 in the set. Cheyne Corrado posted her season high in kills with four in the final frame.

Portland State now heads to Greeley, Colo., the site of the 2012 Big Sky Volleyball Tournament, to take on Northern Colorado on Saturday. The match is slated for a 6 p.m. PT start.

NOTES: Leigh-Ann Haataja led the Vikings in kills for the second time this season … Portland State hit a season-low .099 (38-24-142) … Thursday was the third time this season that no Viking recorded double-digit kills … Jaklyn Wheeler posted six kills and now has 400 for the season which is ninth on the Portland State single-season list during its Division I Era (1996-present).