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BOULDER, CO – The Portland State volleyball team struggled offensively Friday night against the University of Colorado falling in straight sets by scores of 25-20, 26-24, and 25-12. It was the first of three matches for the Vikings at the Omni Classic hosted by Colorado.
 
The Vikings (0-4 overall) had a hard time offensively and hit -.055 (21-26-91) for the match. It was the first time Portland State recorded a negative hitting percentage since 2011.
 
Freshman outside hitter Roni LaPierre led the Vikigns with eight kills. Freshman setter Erin Clark tallied four kills in the match to go along with four digs and 13 assists.
 
Defensively, the Vikings had one of their better performances of the season. Portland State held Colorado (3-1) to an opponent season-low .144 hitting percentage and matched its season high with 10 blocks.
 
PSU middle blockers Katie O'Brien and Sarah Liva each tallied a solo block along with three blocking assists while outside hitter Leigh-Ann Haataja added four blocking assists.
 
After being tied 15-15 in the first set, Colorado scored three straight points to go up 18-15. The Vikings stayed within a couple points before the Buffaloes went on a run to take the first set 25-20.
 
Vikings were down 24-19 in the second before fighting off five set points to tie the match at 24-24. LaPierre started the run with a kill that Haataja followed up with a kill of her own. Hattaja teamed up with O'Brien on a block before connecting on her third kill of the match to bring the score to 24-23, which forced Colorado to call a timeout.
 
After the time out, a Colorado attacking error tied the match at 24-24. Unfortunately, the Vikings recorded a service error followed by an attacking error and the Buffaloes took the second set, 26-24, to go up two sets to none.
 
Colorado came out and took the third set 25-12 and held the Vikings to a -.161 hitting percentage for the set. The Vikings tallied five kills and 10 errors in the third.
 
The Vikings will look to bounce back from the defeat when they take on the Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. MT. They will then finish off the Omni Classic against Georgia Southern at 5:30 p.m. MT.