MISSOULA, Mont. – Junior S Erin Clark recorded her 2,000th-career assist as the Vikings took care of the Montana Grizzlies in straight sets Thursday night in Missoula, Mont. to clinch a berth into the 2016 Big Sky Volleyball Tournament.
 
Portland State's win, along with Idaho's four-set loss at Northern Colorado, secured the Vikings' berth into the Big Sky tournament, hosted by the regular season champion Nov. 17-19. PSU is currently sixth overall in the Big Sky, two matches behind Idaho State in the standings. The Vikings and Bengals face off in each teams' Big Sky finales on Nov. 12 in Portland.
 
Not only did Clark become the 10th Viking in program history to surpass the 2,000-assist mark, she tallied her 11th double-double of the season, 21st of her career, with 28 assists and 13 digs. Clark put together an all-around performance with five kills and three blocks. She spread the ball around the court getting everyone involved.
 
Each Portland State starter had at least four kills in the sweep, led by freshman OH Caitlin Bettenay's match-high 10. She tallied 12 digs in the match for her seventh double-double of the season. She also added one of the Vikings' four aces in the match.
 
Defensively, the Vikings held the Grizzlies to a .017 (30-28-116) hitting mark in the match. Portland State tallied 50 digs, led by junior L Tasha Bojanic's match-high 18 digs. PSU added 10 blocks in the match for its sixth double-digit block match of the season, second straight.
 
Sophomore MB Katy Wilson posted a team-high five blocks (1-4). She has tallied 20.0 blocks over the last three matches (2.72 blocks per set). Wilson added seven kills and hit .429 for the match.  
 
Portland State jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead early in the opening frame. Montana stormed back with six-straight points to take a 7-6 lead. After trading points to 8-8, the Vikings rattled of four straight to go up 12-8. The Grizzlies pulled within two at 22-20 late in the set before the Vikings took three of the final four points to win 25-21.
 
The second set was comprised of runs by each team. The Vikings lead 4-2 early before the Grizzlies came back to take a 6-5 lead. Portland State strung three points together before Montana went on a 4-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. After Portland State tied it with back-to-back points, the teams traded points to 12-12.
 
The Grizzlies scored the next four points to go up 16-12, which forced the Vikings to call a timeout. The timeout proved to be well timed as the Vikings rattled off six straight to go up 18-16, which forced a Montana timeout. After the teams traded points to 20-19 in favor of the Vikings, PSU scored the final five points of the set to win 25-19 and go up 2-0 in the match.
 
Down 4-2 in the third set, Portland State rattled off six-straight points to go up 8-4. Montana cut the Vikings' lead to 9-7, before an 8-2 run put the Vikings' up 17-9. The Grizzlies fought off a pair of match points before Bettenay's 10th kill gave the Vikings a 25-18 win in the third to complete the sweep.
 
Portland State heads to Sacramento State for its final Big Sky road match of the season on Saturday, Nov. 5. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. PT start.
 
NOTES:
• Junior S Erin Clark became the 10th member of the Portland State 2,000 assist club.
• Clark recorded her 11th double-double of the season with 28 assists and 13 digs.
• Freshman OH Caitlin Bettenay recorded her seventh double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs.
• Portland State recorded double-digit blocks for the sixth time, second straight.