OGDEN, Utah – The Vikings dropped their second consecutive match for the first time during Big Sky Conference play, falling in four sets to the Weber State Wildcats Thursday night in Ogden, Utah.
 
Weber State (9-18 overall, 7-8 BSC) took the match by scores of 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, and 25-23. Portland State fell to 19-8 overall and 10-5 in league play. With the loss, the Vikings fell to fourth place in the overall conference standings.
 
The Portland State offense struggled to get into a rhythm. Weber State entered the match as the top blocking team in the league and its net defenders wreaked havoc on the Vikings' attackers. The Vikings hit .165 for the match, recording 25 errors.
 
The Vikings had two players come off the bench and tally double-digit kills in the match. JR OH Sarah Brennan posted a team-high 12 kills. It was her third double-digit kill match in the last four.
 
SO OH Caitlin Bettenay added 10 kills and hit .300 in the match. She also tallied 12 digs for her ninth double-double of the season.
 
Portland State took an early 7-3 lead in the opening frame. Weber State came back to tie the set at 13-13. That started a run of seven-straight points that put the Wildcats up 19-13. The Vikings tried to cut into the lead before falling 25-17 in the first.
 
With the second set tied at 15-15, Portland State rattled off four-straight points to go up 19-15. The teams traded points before the Vikings scored back-to-back points to take the set 25-19 and even the match at one set apiece.
 
Portland State stormed out to a 7-0 lead to start the third set. Weber State started to chip away at the lead until the Wildcats tied the set at 17-17. After trading points to 18-18, WSU went on a 7-1 run to take the third set 25-19.
 
The fourth set was back-and-forth throughout. Tied at 20-20, the Vikings scored back-to-back points to go up 22-20. Weber State came right back and took five of the next six to take the fourth set 25-23 to win 3-1.
 
Weber State had three players with double-digit kills led by Megan Gneiting's match-high 21 kills.
 
Portland State closes out the regular season Saturday, Nov. 11 at Idaho State. The match is slated to start at 6 p.m. PT.