BOISE, Idaho – The Vikings could not capitalize on their opening set win, falling 3-1 to the Boise State Broncos Thursday night on the first day of the Boise State invitational in Boise, Idaho.
 
Portland State (7-3 overall) took the first set 25-22 before dropping the next three sets by scores of 25-21, 25-23, and 25-17.
 
Senior OH Pati Anae posted a team-high 14 kills and 18 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, third straight. Her 18 digs matched her previous season high set against Colorado on Aug. 27. Junior S Erin Clark matched Anae's fifth double-double with her fifth of the season. She tallied 45 assists and 12 digs in the match to go along with four kills, and ace, and a block.
 
Sophomore OH Sarah Brennan provided the Vikings with a lot of offense off the bench. She posted a career-high 13 kills on 33 swings. She added a pair of digs and four blocks in the match.
 
With the first set tied at 15-15, the Vikings went on a 4-0 run to go up 19-15, forcing a Boise State (6-4) timeout. The Broncos countered with a 6-0 run of their own to go up 21-19. Sophomore MB Katy Wilson ended the run before sophomore DS Haley Glass tied it with an ace. Wilson ended the match with six kills and a pair of blocks. Glass was one of four Vikings with double-digit digs, tallying 15 in the match.
 
After a Boise State point, Anae tied the set at 22-22. An attacking error and an ace from freshman OH Caitlin Bettenay gave the Vikings set point in the opening frame. Anae gave the Vikings the 25-22 win in the first with her third kill of the match.
 
The second set stayed close through the first half before the Broncos went on a run to take a 20-15 lead. Portland State pulled within three points at 23-20 before falling 25-21 in the set.
 
Portland State had to come back again in the third set. Down 15-10, the Vikings battled back to tie the set at 19-19 before taking a 21-19 lead. Two straight Boise State points tied the set at 21-21, forcing a Portland State timeout. Brennan came out of the timeout with a kill to again give the Vikings the lead.
 
Three straight points by the Broncos gave them set point at 24-22, again forcing a Portland State timeout. A big block by Brennan and Wilson staved off set point to make it 24-23 but the Vikings could not break set point again, falling 25-23 in the third.
 
The Vikings had to battle and come back in each of the first three set and it took a toll. Down 12-9, Portland State tallied back-to-back points on Boise State errors. PSU got in a rough rotation that it could not get out of as the Broncos went on an 8-0 run to go up 20-11. Brennan was able to end the run to make it 20-12.  
 
The Vikings made a small run late before falling 25-17 in the fourth do drop the match 3-1. It was the first time this season that the Vikings lost a match after winning the first set.
 
Portland State will be back at it Friday night when the Vikings take on the Arizona State Sun Devils. The match is slated for a 4 p.m. PT start.
 
NOTES:
• Portland State has not won in Boise since 1987.
• Portland State is 1-1 when they split the first two sets.
• Portland State is 6-1 when winning the first set.
• Pati Anae posted her fifth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 18 digs.
• Anae matched her season high in digs with 18.
• Erin Clark posted her fifth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 12 digs.