Complete Match Notes (PDF)

FIRST SERVE
The Portland State volleyball team showed signs of breaking through in their five-set match against Cal out of the Pac-12 Conference last Friday night. The Vikings remain looking for that breakthrough as they hit the road for the Colorado Classic in Boulder, Colo., this weekend, but if the Vikings can complete the breakthrough – on the road in a mountainous state such as Colorado – it will have all the makings of an easy-listening country song, and more importantly give the Vikings momentum heading into Big Sky play the week after in Montana.
 
The Vikings' schedule won't do them any favors this weekend, however, as the Vikings will play two teams that made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in Colorado and Colorado State. Both the Buffaloes and Rams received votes in the latest AVCA Top-25 Coaches Poll, while the Vikings' third opponent – the Indiana State Sycamores – heads into the tournament 6-3 on the season.
 
The Vikings were also underdogs against the Bears on Friday, but put together their best performance of the season to date. The Vikings recorded 12 blocks against the Bears, five more than they had in any other match during the season. Additionally, the Vikings committed a season-low three receiving errors in the match, and was a kill away from having four players with 10+ kills for the first time since Oct. 26, 2017.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb led the Vikings while posting a career night against the Bears, as she set career highs in kills (15), digs (12) and attacks (45) while finishing with her first-career double-double. Senior middle blocker Katy Wilson was a kill away from her first-career double-double, as she tallied nine kills and a career-high 10 blocks in the match.
 
Freshman outside hitter Peyton McBride was also a bright spot for the Vikings against the Bears as she was throughout the weekend at the Les Schwab West Coast Challenge. McBride recorded 10 digs in the Vikings' first two matches of the tournament, and led the Vikings with nine kills and nine digs in the Vikings' loss to Gonzaga Saturday.
 
The Vikings open the Colorado Classic with a match against host Colorado Friday at 7 p.m. (MT). The Vikings will then face Colorado State and Indiana State in a pair of neutral-site matches Saturday at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. (MT), respectively.
 
STORYLINES
Who/What is Hot:
• Sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb had a career match against California out of the Pac-12 Friday, as she set career highs in kills (15), digs (12) and attacks (45) while finishing with her first-career double-double.
• Senior middle blocker Katy Wilson was a kill away from her first-career double-double as she had nine kills and a career-high 10 blocks in the Vikings' match against Cal.
• The Vikings set a season high with 12 blocks against the Bears, five more than they had in any other match this season. The Vikings also committed a season-low three receiving errors in the match, and had three players with 10+ kills for the first time this season in Webb (15 kills), Jenna Mullen (14 kills) and Toni McDougald (10 kills).
And Not:
• The Vikings were swept in their two other matches at the Les Schwab West Coast Challenge, as they lost 3-0 to Fresno State to open the tournament, and 3-0 to Gonzaga to close the tournament.
• The Vikings have lost eight matches in a row for just the second time under head coach Michael Seemann. The Vikings also lost eight matches in a row in 2011 – a season in which they would go on to finish second in the Big Sky at 12-4 in conference play. The Vikings haven't lost more than eight matches in a row since losing 14 matches in a row in 2001.
• The Vikings have been outhit in every match since their season-opening win over Long Beach State. The Vikings haven't hit over .200 in six straight matches, having last hit over .200 in their second match against Long Beach State on Aug. 25.
 
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-8)
10.23 k/s | 9.58 a/s | 13.52 d/s | 1.58 b/s
Notable: The Portland State Vikings will hope the road solves some of their problems, as they head into the Colorado Classic in Boulder on an eight-match losing streak. The Vikings have lost eight matches in a row under head coach Michael Seemann just once before in 2011. The good news is that the Vikings went on to finish second in the Big Sky that season at 12-4 in conference play. The Vikings showed signs of breaking through in a narrow, 3-2 loss to California out of the Pac-12 last Friday. The Vikings recorded 12 blocks against the Bears, five more than they had in any other match this season. Additionally, the Vikings had a number of individual players break out in the match, especially sophomore Parker Webb, who set career highs in kills (15), digs (12) and attacks (45) while finishing with her first-career double-double at Portland State. Senior Katy Wilson was a kill away from her first-career double-double as she had nine kills and a career-high 10 blocks. Junior outside hitter Toni McDougald also set a career high with four block assists in the match, and was the Vikings' third player with double-digit kills with 10. The Vikings couldn't capitalize on the momentum earned in that match, however, as the Vikings followed it up with a 3-0 loss to Gonzaga Saturday.
 
(RV) COLORADO BUFFALOES (5-3)
13.20 k/s | 12.10 a/s | 13.40 d/s | 2.50 b/s
Notable: The Colorado Buffaloes went 2-1 at their first home tournament last weekend. The Buffs swept Oklahoma and North Carolina at the Buffs Invitational, after opening the tournament with a 3-1 loss to Georgia. The Buffs have also beaten Oral Roberts (3-1), North Florida (3-0) and Iowa (3-1) this season, while losing to Wyoming (3-2) and then-No. 11 Illinois (3-0). The Buffs returned three starters and their libero from their 2017 team that made the NCAA Sweet 16 and finished the season ranked 19th in the nation. The Buffs returned senior outside hitter Alexa Smith, after she earned AVCA second-team All-American honors and was an All-Pac-12 selection last season. Smith leads the Buffs with 3.72 kills per set so far this season, and averages 2.34 digs and 0.69 blocks per set. Junior outside hitter Justine Spann ranks second to Smith with 3.48 kills per set, and also ranks second on the team with 2.62 digs per set. Sophomore setter Brynna Deluzio was an AVCA All-American honorable mention and made the All-Pac-12 freshman team last season, after she ranked third in the conference and 30th in the nation with 11.02 assists per set. Deluzio has been splitting time with freshman Jenna Ewert this season, with Deluzio and Ewert averaging 6.55 and 3.86 assists per set, respectively. Junior Rachel Whipple has taken over the libero duties from senior Gabby Carta-Samuels, and leads the Buffs with 3.59 digs per set. Redshirt freshman Danielle Price and junior Lillie Klemmer ranks first and second on the team with 1.35 and 1.17 blocks per set, respectively.
 
COLORADO SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings and Buffs are tied 1-1 in the all-time series between both teams. The Vikings won the last match in the series, as they beat the Buffs 3-2 at home in 2016. The Buffs won the first match in the series in 2014, when they beat the Vikings 3-0 in Boulder, Colo.
 
VIKINGS VERSUS THE PAC-12
The Vikings will play their fourth Pac-12 team of the season in Colorado Friday night. The Vikings have played three matches against Pac-12 teams earlier in the season, losing 3-0 to then-No. 18 Oregon and Oregon State, and 3-2 to the Cal Bears last Friday. The Vikings had won three matches in a row against Pac-12 opponents before their loss to the Ducks at the start of the season. The Vikings beat Colorado (3-2 on Aug. 27, 2016) and Arizona State twice (3-1 on Sept. 16, 2016 and 3-1 on Sept. 2, 2017) in consecutive matches. The Vikings' win over Colorado in 2016 was their first over a Pac-12 opponent since the Vikings beat Utah in 2012. Before that, the Vikings' only win over a Pac-12 team since turning Division I in 1996 came in 2005, when the Vikings beat Oregon, 3-1. The Vikings are 5-39 all-time against Pac-12 opponents since 1996, but are 96-81-1 all-time when all records are taken into account.
 
(RV) COLORADO STATE RAMS (6-3)
12.82 k/s | 12.09 a/s | 13.32 d/s | 2.69 b/s
Notable: Two of the Colorado State Rams' three losses this season have come against ranked teams in then-No. 12 Illinois and then-No. 20 Michigan. The Rams came back from a 2-0 deficit to take the Illini to a fifth set at home, but fell 15-11 in the final frame. The Rams also have three wins this season over Power 5 conference schools in Florida State (3-2), TCU (3-1) and LSU (3-0). Additionally, the Rams beat another Big Sky school in Northern Colorado, which they swept 3-0 on the Bears' home court. The Rams return nine letterwinners from their 2017 team that went 29-4 overall and won the Mountain West Conference with a 17-1 record in conference play. The Rams returned junior setter Katie Oleksak, who was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year last season, as well as the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016. Oleksak, also a two-time AVCA All-American honorable mention, leads the Mountain West and ranks 26th in the NCAA with 10.94 assists per set this season. The Rams also return a pair of former Mountain West Conference Newcomers of the Year in Kirstie Hillyer and Breana Runnels, as well as another all-conference selection in Paulina Hougaard-Jensen. Runnels leads the team with 3.56 kills per set, while Hillyer and Hougaard-Jensen follow her with 3.26 and 2.38 kills per set, respectively. Hillyer also leads the team with 1.32 blocks per set, while Hougaard-Jensen ranks second with 1.18 blocks per set. The Rams average 2.69 blocks per set as a team, an average that ranks them third in the Mountain West Conference and 23rd in the nation. Amanda Young and Maddi Foutz rank 1-2 for the Rams with 3.67 and 3.06 digs per set, respectively.
 
COLORADO STATE SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Rams, 5-1. The teams have not played each other since 1983, however, when the Vikings beat the Rams, 2-1, in a neutral-site match. The Rams' lone win in the series also came in 1983, when the Rams beat the Vikings 2-0 in another neutral-site match.
 
INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES (6-3)
12.46 k/s | 11.59 a/s | 16.19 d/s | 2.09 b/s
Notable: The Indiana State Sycamores have gone 2-1 at all three tournaments they've played in so far this season, including their home tournament – the Sycamore Invitational – last weekend. The Sycamores played three five-set matches at their home tournament, beating Green Bay and Saint Louis in five sets while losing in five sets to Central Michigan. The Sycamores return four starters from their 2017 team that went 11-21 overall and placed sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 8-10 conference record. Six different players average at least 2.00 kills per set, led by senior outside hitter Laura Gross, who averages 2.97 kills per set. Gross also ranks just off the team lead in digs per set with an average of 3.97, and has recorded double-doubles in eight of the team's nine matches so far this season. Rhiannon Morozoff (2.68), Damadji Johnson (2.43), Nikkie White (2.21), Madeline Williams (2.05) and Alex Toombs (2.00) all join Gross with averages above 2.00 kills per set. Johnson leads the Sycamores with 1.27 blocks per set, an average that ranks her third in the Missouri Valley and 61st in the nation. Toombs ranks second on the team with 1.00 blocks per set. Junior Jade York leads the team with 4.03 digs per set.
 
INDIANA STATE SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Vikings and Sycamores.
 
LIVE STATS
Live stats will be available from all of the Vikings' matches at the Colorado Classic. Fans can find the links to live stats on the volleyball schedule page at GoViks.com.
 
LIVE VIDEO
A live video stream will be available for all of the Vikings' matches at the Colorado Classic. Fans can find the links to the live video stream on the volleyball schedule page at GoViks.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings went 0-3 at home at the Les Schwab West Coast Challenge last weekend, losing to Fresno State, California and Gonzaga. The Vikings' loss to Cal was a source of hope for the team, however, as the Vikings took the Bears to a fifth set while playing their best match of the season. The Vikings recorded 12 blocks against the Bears, five more than they had in any other match of the season. Additionally, the Vikings committed a season-low three receiving errors, and forced the Bears into committing 29 attack errors, a season-high for a Viking opponent. Sophomore Parker Webb set career highs in kills (15), digs (12) and attacks (45) while finishing with her first-career double-double at Portland State. Senior Katy Wilson was a kill away from her first-career double-double as she had nine kills and a career-high 10 blocks in the match. The Vikings came back to beat the Bears in the first and fourth sets of the match, overcoming big deficits in each set to win. The Vikings trailed 10-3 early in the first set, but got into the match after that and took their first lead at 14-13. The Bears led 23-19 later in the first set, but the Vikings came back with four straight points to level the set again at 23-23. The Vikings then fought off three set points for the Bears before finishing off the first set at 30-28 with a dump over the net from sophomore setter Maddy Reeb. The Bears led 13-10 in the fourth set, before the Vikings went on a 5-0 run to go up 15-13. The Bears went back up 17-15, but another 5-0 Portland State run put the Vikings up 20-17. Back-to-back kills from senior Jenna Mullen and Webb sealed the fourth set for the Vikings, 25-21. The Vikings jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth set, but the Bears came back to take an 8-7 lead and eventually finished off the Vikings, 15-11.
 
UPCOMING
The Vikings open Big Sky play on the road with a trip to face Montana State and Montana. The Vikings open the weekend against the Bobcats Thursday, Sept. 20, and then play Montana Saturday, Sept. 22. Both matches start at 7 p.m. (MT).
 
SCHEDULING AGAINST THE BEST
The Vikings didn't hold back on its schedule this season, as they will play their third and fourth NCAA tournament teams of the season this weekend in Colorado and Colorado State. The Vikings have already played two NCAA tournament teams in Oregon and Oregon State, as well as another postseason team in Boise State, which made the National Invitational Volleyball Championship last season. Oregon and Colorado State each made the second round of the NCAA tournament last season, while Colorado made the sweet 16. Additionally, Oregon came into their match against the Vikings ranked 18th in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches Poll, while Oregon State, Colorado and Colorado State were all receiving votes at the time of their match.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS
• Senior outside hitter Jenna Mullen ranks ninth in the Big Sky with an average of 3.10 kills per set.
• Sophomore setter Maddy Reeb ranks ninth in the Big Sky with 7.74 assists per set, and 10th with 0.32 service aces per set.
• Senior middle blocker Katy Wilson ranks 10th in the Big Sky with 1.03 blocks per set.
 
MICHAEL SEEMANN JOINS 200-WIN CLUB
Portland State head coach Michael Seemann earned his 200th career win at Portland State with the Vikings' 3-0 sweep of Long Beach State on Aug. 24. Seemann became the third coach in the history of the Viking volleyball program to reach 200 wins, joining Marlene Piper (445 wins; 1969-72 & 1974-83) and Jeff Mozzochi (371 wins; 1984-92 & 2001-06). Teri Mariani, who coached the Viking softball team from 1977-2005, owns the most wins of any Viking head coach with 663 wins in her tenure. Two baseball coaches – Jack Dunn (1975-94) and Roy Love (1962-74) – also reached the 200-win plateau with 630 and 257 wins, respectively. Seemann also became the 11th coach in Big Sky history to reach 200 wins, as well as the second active coach, joining Northern Colorado's Lyndsey Oates, who has 231 wins in 13 years with the Bears. Seemann has one more Big Sky win than Oates, however, making him the active leader in conference wins.
 
Most Coaching Wins at Portland State
Coach                          Wins          Team                           Years
Teri Mariani                663            Softball                       1977-2005
Jack Dunn                    630            Baseball                      1975-94
Marlene Piper             445            Volleyball                    1969-72, 1974-83
Jeff Mozzochi              371            Volleyball                    1984-92, 2001-06
Roy Love                      257            Baseball                      1962-74
Michael Seemann       200            Volleyball                    2007-Present
 
KATY WILSON ON CAREER RECORD WATCH
Senior middle blocker Katy Wilson has the chance to end her career with the top Division I hitting percentage in program history if things go well during her senior season. Wilson's current career hitting percentage of .318 ranks 16 points higher than the current Division I career record for hitting percentage, which Lana Zielke set at .302 from 2008-10. Wilson's .318 career hitting percentage would also rank fifth all-time since 1982 across all NCAA Divisions if the season ended today. Kristi Scott currently holds the top career hitting percentage since 1982, as she hit .341 when the Vikings were a Division II program from 1990-91. Wilson also ranks eighth all time in Division I career solo blocks with 42 in her career. Michelle Segun holds the Division I career record with 89 solo blocks from 2004-07.
 
HITTING PCT. (1982-Pres.)            
Minimum 1,000 Attempts
Rk   Name                                         Avg
1.     Kristi Scott (1990-91)                 .341
2.     Peggy Adams (1992-95)            .333
3.     Wendy Coleman (1990-91)       .320
4.     Leanne Peters (1990-93)           .319
5.     Katy Wilson (2015-Pres.)          .318
6.     Theresa Huitinga (1982-85)       .305
7.     Robin Unger (1992-93)              .305
8.     Lana Zielke (2008-10)                .302
9.     Jenny Norlin (1986-89)              .297
10.   Maria Rickman (1986-89)          .288
 
HITTING PCT. – DI (1996-Pres.)     
Minimum 1,000 Attempts
Rk   Name                                         Avg
1.     Katy Wilson (2015-Pres.)          .318
2.     Lana Zielke (2008-10)                .302
3.     Lisa Thomas (2001-04)              .287
4.     Jessica Frederick (2003-06)       .270
5.     Erica Jepsen (2006-09)              .266
6.     Katie O'Brien (2011-14)             .265
7.     Michelle Segun (Robertson)      .249
        (2004-07)
8.     Leigh-Ann Haataja (2011-14)    .242
9.     Christie Hamilton (2007-10)      .240
10.   Aubrey Mitchell (2010-13)        .233
 
SOLO BLOCKS – DI (1996-Pres.)    
Rk   Name                                         Total
1.     Michelle Segun (Robertson)      89
        (2004-07)                                  
2.     Hannah Long** (1996-98)         68
3.     Katie O'Brien (2011-14)             66
4.     Erica Jepsen (2006-09)              53
5.     Lisa Thomas (2001-04)              52
6.     Nicole Geils (1998-01)               51
7.     Jessica Frederick (Vanzant)       49
        (2003-06)                                  
8.     Katy Wilson (2015-Pres.)          42
9.     Stacy Ball (1999-02)                  39
        Lana Zielke (2008-10)                39
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Aug. 24: The Vikings beat Long Beach State, 3-0, to hand head coach Michael Seemann his 200th win at Portland State. Seemann became the third Viking volleyball coach to reach 200 wins in his or her career, joining Marlene Piper (445 wins) and Jeff Mozzochi (371 wins).
Aug. 25: Senior outside hitter Jenna Mullen recorded back-to-back double-doubles in the Vikings' matches against Boise State and Long Beach State. She had only recorded two double-doubles in her career before, but doubled that total in one day.
Sept. 7: The Vikings came within a few points of upsetting California out of the Pac-12 conference, as they lost 15-11 to the Bears in the fifth set. The Vikings recorded a season-high 12 blocks against the Bears, five more than they had in any other match to that point in the season. Sophomore Parker Webb set career highs in kills (15), digs (12) and attacks (45) in the match while finishing with her first-career double-double. Senior Katy Wilson was also a kill away from her first-career double-double as she had nine kills and a career-high 10 blocks in the match.