FIRST SERVE
In each of the past two weeks the Portland State volleyball team has taken the lessons learned from a loss in their first match of the weekend and turned around to win their second match. Two weeks ago, it came in a pair of matches against the University of Portland. Last week, it came in the opening weekend of Big Sky play as the Vikings swept Eastern Washington Friday, just over 24 hours after losing 3-0 to Idaho on Thursday.
 
Last week's lesson came in closing out sets as the Vikings gave up late leads in the first and second sets against Idaho. The Vikings held a set point in the first set of their match against the Vandals, and led 19-16 and 22-21 in the second set. The Vikings ended up losing both sets, and the Vandals ran away with the third set to close out the match against the Vikings.
 
The Vikings showed no signs of the same problems Friday against the Eagles, however, as they beat Eastern Washington in three sets. The Vikings even came back from a late deficit in the third set against the Eagles, helping them close out the match after going up two sets to none. The Vikings trailed 18-14 in the third before winning 11 of the next 15 points to complete the sweep.
 
A week earlier, the Vikings showed match-to-match improvement against their cross-town rivals, beating the Pilots 3-1 on Sept. 21, two days after the Pilots beat the Vikings, 3-1. The two lessons from the first match against the Pilots came in kill production and defense against the Pilots' hitters. The Vikings accomplished both in spades, as they recorded 51 kills in their win over the Pilots – a seasonal best for a four-set match and second-best total overall – while holding the Pilots to .163 hitting after they hit .218 against the Vikings in their first match against each other.
 
This coming Thursday's match brings a number of potential lessons for the Vikings, as defending Big Sky champion and preseason conference favorite Northern Arizona enters Viking Pavilion.
 
The Lumberjacks looked every bit like the preseason Big Sky favorites during the non-conference season. The Lumberjacks beat a Power 5 school in LSU (3-0 on Sept. 13), and led then-No. 15 Michigan two sets to one before losing in five. Additionally, the Lumberjacks swept Weber State and Idaho State to open Big Sky play last weekend.
 
Statistically, the Lumberjacks lead the Big Sky in every offensive category between hitting percentage (.243), assists per set (11.71) and kills per set (12.46). The Lumberjacks also rank just behind Weber State at second in opponent hitting percentage (.173), and rank third in the conference in blocks per set (2.48) and digs per set (15.75).
 
Individually, Heaven Harris, an All-Big Sky first-team selection last season, leads the Lumberjacks and ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 3.10 kills per set. Harris also ranks seventh in the conference with a .322 hitting percentage, while teammate Abby Akin, herself a two-time All-Big Sky first-team selection, leads the conference with a .412 mark. Akin was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the week Monday after recording 18 blocks between the Lumberjacks' two wins last weekend.
 
Southern Utah, meanwhile, will provide its own challenges for the Vikings Saturday after the Thunderbirds upset Weber State, which was picked to finish second in the Big Sky preseason poll, in five sets last week. The Thunderbirds came back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Wildcats, and outhit them .253-to-.179 in the match.
 
Shannon Webb ranks just one-hundredth of a point off the Big Sky lead for kills per set while leading the Thunderbirds with an average of 3.82. Stacey Hone also ranks second on the team and eighth in the conference with 2.94 kills per set. Katie Montgomery ranks sixth in the Big Sky with a .324 hitting percentage while averaging 1.82 kills per set. Corrin Peterson leads the Thunderbirds with 9.91 assists per set, ranking her third in the Big Sky.
 
The Vikings will need the lessons they've learned over the past two weeks when they face NAU and Southern Utah. If they've learned them well enough, then the Vikings could sweep the weekend. Even if they don't, and the Vikings lose to NAU Thursday, the Vikings should at least have confidence that they can bounce back and beat the Thunderbirds on Saturday.
 
Thursday's match against Northern Arizona is presented by OnPoint Community Credit Union. Additionally, a recent schedule change means both matches this weekend will now start at 7 p.m. (PT).
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (5-8, 1-1) vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA (9-5, 2-0)
LIVE STATS| LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. (PT) in Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA: Big Sky coaches unanimously selected the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks to repeat as Big Sky champions before the season, and the Lumberjacks have lived up to that pick with a strong start to the season. The Lumberjacks went 7-5 during non-conference play, including a 3-0 home sweep of LSU out of the SEC. The Lumberjacks also held a 2-1 lead over then-No. 15 Michigan on Aug. 30, but ended up losing in five sets. The Lumberjacks beat both Weber State and Idaho State, 3-1, to open Big Sky play this past weekend. Heading into the season, the Lumberjacks returned four starters and nine letterwinners from their 2018 team that tied Idaho for the Big Sky regular-season title before sweeping the Vandals in the Big Sky championship match. This season, the Lumberjacks lead the Big Sky in every offensive category between hitting percentage (.243), assists per set (11.71) and kills per set (12.46). The Lumberjacks also rank just behind Weber State at second in opponent hitting percentage (.173), and rank third in the conference in blocks per set (2.48) and digs per set (15.75). Individually, Heaven Harris, an All-Big Sky first-team selection last season, leads the Lumberjacks and ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 3.10 kills per set. Harris also ranks seventh in the conference with a .322 hitting percentage, while teammate Abby Akin, herself a two-time All-Big Sky first-team selection, leads the conference with a .412 mark. Akin was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the week Monday after recording 18 blocks between the Lumberjacks' two wins last weekend. Akin moved into a tie for the Big Sky lead in blocks per set with the Vikings' own Jordan White as a result, as both players average 1.57 blocks per set. Additionally, freshman libero Jasmine West ranks third in the Big Sky with 4.46 digs per set, while senior setter Abby Stomp ranks 10th in the Big Sky with 5.56 assists per set despite splitting time with sophomore Aubrea Bandfield (4.71 a/s).
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 28-20, as well as the Big Sky series, 27-19. The Lumberjacks have owned the series of late, as they've won 11 of the last 12 against the Vikings, including both matches last season. The Vikings last beat the Lumberjacks at the 2017 Big Sky tournament, winning 3-1 in the quarterfinals.
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (5-8, 1-1) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH (8-6, 1-1)
LIVE STATS| LIVE AUDIO*
DETAILS: Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. (PT) in Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH:The Southern Utah Thunderbirds split their opening weekend of Big Sky play last week, losing 3-0 at home to Idaho State before upsetting Weber State – the team picked to finish second in the Big Sky behind NAU – in five sets on Saturday. The Thunderbirds came back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Wildcats, and outhit them .253-to-.179 in the match. The Thunderbirds shared two common opponents with the Vikings during non-conference play in Middle Tennessee and Nevada. Both PSU and SUU beat Middle Tennessee while losing to Nevada, though the Thunderbirds took Nevada to five sets while the Vikings lost in three. The Thunderbirds, now in their second year under head coach Pete Hoyer, returned four starters and eight letterwinners from their 2018 team that finished 5-13 in Big Sky play last season. The Thunderbirds did not return All-Big Sky second-team selection Janet Kalaniuvalu, however, after she led the Thunderbirds with 4.03 kills per set last season. Shannon Webb, has stepped up in Kalaniuvalu's absence and ranks just one-hundredth of a point off the Big Sky lead with 3.82 kills per set. Stacey Hone also ranks second on the team and eighth in the conference with 2.94 kills per set. Katie Montgomery ranks sixth in the Big Sky with a .324 hitting percentage while averaging 1.82 kills per set. Corrin Peterson leads the Thunderbirds with 9.91 assists per set, ranking her third in the Big Sky. Thea Leiataua leads all active players on the Thunderbirds' roster with 3.04 digs per set.
ALL-TIME SERIES:The Vikings and Thunderbirds split their season series last season, but the Vikings still lead the overall and Big Sky series, 11-3. The Vikings had won five straight matches in the series before losing the teams' first match against each other last season. The Vikings rebounded from that loss to sweep the Thunderbirds in Cedar City later in the year.
* There will be no live video stream of Saturday's match due to a conflict with the Viking football game that day.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings split their road trip to Idaho and Eastern Washington, losing 3-0 to the Vandals on Thursday before sweeping the Eagles in three sets on Friday. 
• Freshman libero Ellie Snook had 22 digs Thursday against the Vandals, setting a new career high for her in a three-set match. Snook then repeated the feat with 22 digs against the Eagles on Friday, the third straight match and fifth out of the last seven that she's recorded over 20 digs. No Viking had recorded as many digs as Snook in a three-set match since Tasha Bojanic had 23 digs against Sacramento State on Sept. 30, 2017. Snook now ranks second in the Big Sky and 32nd in the nation with 5.00 digs per set.
• Senior outside hitter Toni McDougald led the Vikings with 11 kills against the Eagles Friday, the fifth straight match and sixth out of the last seven in which she's recorded double-digit kills. McDougald ranks second on the Vikings' team with 2.76 kills per set this season, and also ranks fourth with 2.16 digs per set. McDougald's 2.16 digs per set average is a career best by a healthy margin.
• Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb had her streak of six straight matches with double-digit kills snapped in the Vikings' win over Eastern Washington Friday. Webb still averages a team-leading 2.84 kills per set, an average that also ranks her 10th in the Big Sky this season.
• Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Powell has five double-doubles in the Vikings' 13 matches so far this season. Powell had three double-doubles and was a dig away from a fourth in a span of five matches that included the Vikings' home tournament and their home-and-home series against the University of Portland. Powell set a career-high with 21 kills to go with 14 digs in the Vikings' five-set win over Morgan State on Sept. 13, and then followed a day later with a career-high 18 digs to go with 12 kills in the team's five-set loss to CSUN. 
• Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Jordan White ranks tied for the Big Sky lead with 1.57 blocks per set this season. 
• Freshman setter Caroline Dragani has started the last seven matches after splitting the starting setter duties with senior Mary Jo McBride at the start of the season. Dragani has three double-doubles since the beginning of her starts streak, including a career-best performance against the Pilots on Sept. 21. Dragani recorded 42 assists and a career-high 15 digs against the Pilots while leading the Vikings to a .283 hitting performance.
• The Viking defense has held four of their last seven opponents to under .200 hitting, while the Vikings have recorded 10 or more blocks in five of their last eight matches. As a team, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky with 15.92 digs per set, and also rank fourth in both blocks per set (2.35) and opponent hitting percentage (.196).
 
WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR ELLIE SNOOK
Freshman libero Ellie Snook set a new career high for digs in a three-set match with 22 against Idaho on Thursday, then matched the feat a day later against Eastern Washington. No Viking had recorded that many digs in a three-set match since Tasha Bojanic had 23 digs against Sacramento State on Sept. 30, 2017, the year she was named the Big Sky Libero of the Year. Snook averaged 7.33 digs per set over the weekend, upping her season average to 5.00, which ranks her second in the Big Sky and 32nd in the nation. Overall, Snook has recorded 20 or more digs in five of the Vikings' last seven matches, including a career-high 30 digs in the Vikings' five-set loss to CSUN on Sept. 14.
 
DEFENSE RETURNING TO PARK BLOCKS
Typically a strength under head coach Michael Seemann, the Viking defense has made a return to the Park Blocks after a down year in 2018. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 54th in the nation with 15.92 digs per set as a team, led by freshman libero Ellie Snook, who ranks second individually in the conference with 5.00 digs per set. Additionally, the Vikings rank fourth in the Big Sky for both blocks per set (2.35) and opponent hitting percentage (.196).
 
TONI MCDOUGALD, SHEEEEEEE'S GREAT!
Senior outside hitter Toni McDougald led the Vikings with 11 kills in their 3-0 win over Eastern Washington Friday, the fifth straight match and sixth out of the last seven in which she's recorded double-digit kills. McDougald ranks second on the Vikings' team with 2.76 kills per set this season, just below redshirt sophomore Parker Webb, who leads the Vikings with 2.84 kills per set. McDougald's big improvement this season has been in her passing, and she's remained on the floor longer than at any point of her career because of it. McDougald is averaging a career-best 2.16 digs per set as a result, which is well above her mark last season when she averaged 1.23 digs per set.
 
THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF PARKER WEBB
Redshirt sophomore Parker Webb, forced to sit out all but the first three weeks of last season due to injury, has shown how much the Vikings missed her in 2018. Webb had her streak of six straight matches with double-digit kills snapped in the Vikings' win over Eastern Washington Friday, but she's still gone in double figures for kills in nine of the Vikings' 13 matches this season. Webb leads the Vikings with an average of 2.84 kills per set as a result, an average that also ranks her 10th in the Big Sky this season. Webb recorded a career-best performance in the Vikings' 3-1 win over cross-town rival University of Portland on Sept. 21. Webb recorded a career-high 19 kills on .415 hitting in the match, and was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week the following Monday.
 
QUESTION MARK TURNING INTO A STRENGTH FOR VIKINGS AT THE NET
With no returners back at middle blocker, the Vikings' presence at the net was a major question mark going into the 2019 season. However, that question mark has turned into a strength as redshirt sophomore Jordan White has led a young blocking crew for the Vikings. White, who returned from an injury that kept her out for five matches earlier in the season, has seven or more blocks in four of her eight appearances this season. As a team, the Vikings have 10 or more blocks in six matches this season, five of which came in a six-match stretch in September. White's performance has her tied for the Big Sky lead with 1.57 blocks per set, while freshman middle blocker Riley Daniel ranks just outside of the top 10 with 1.00 blocks per set.
 
POWELL'S A GOOD NAME IN PORTLAND
Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Powell has stepped right in as a six-rotation player for the Vikings, and has recorded five double-doubles in her first 13 collegiate matches. Powell recorded three double-doubles and was a dig away from another in a five-match span that included the Vikings' home tournament and home-and-home series against the University of Portland. Powell had her best match so far in the Vikings' opening match of their home tournament, the Les Schwab Rose City Showdown, after which she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Powell recorded a career-high 21 kills on .373 hitting to go with 14 digs in the Vikings' five-set win over Morgan State on Sept. 13. Powell's 21 kills marked the most by a Viking freshman since Eva Linden had 21 kills against Montana State on Oct. 24, 2015. Powell followed up with 12 kills and a career-high 18 digs against CSUN the next day. For the season, Powell leads all of the Vikings' outside hitters with 2.85 digs per set, while also ranking third with 2.52 kills per set.
 
SETTLING IN ON A SETTER
Freshman Caroline Dragani has started the Vikings' last seven matches as she's emerged as the Vikings' full-time setter after splitting time with senior Mary Jo McBride earlier in the season. Dragani has three double-doubles since beginning her run of starts, including a career-best performance in the Vikings' 3-1 win over the University of Portland on Sept. 21. Dragani recorded 42 assists – a career best for her in a four-set match – while setting a new career high with 15 digs in the match. Additionally, Dragani led the Vikings to a .283 hitting performance in the match, the Vikings' second-highest mark this season and highest in a four-set match. Dragani also had a career-high 49 assists to go with 12 digs in the Vikings' five-set win over Morgan State on Sept. 13. 
 
SEVEN FRESHMEN, EIGHT NEWCOMERS
The Vikings may face some growing pains early in the season, as they try to integrate eight newcomers to the team, including seven freshmen. The Vikings returned only four letterwinners from their 2018 team, including only two starters in senior outside hitter Toni McDougald and junior setter Maddy Reeb. Senior setter Mary Jo McBride and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb also returned. Because of that, the Vikings will use youth at every position during the season, especially at libero, where the Vikings are guaranteed to start a first-year player in either Ellie Snook or Kylie Komo. The Vikings also have nothing but newcomers at middle blocker, while freshman Caroline Dragani started the Vikings' first three matches of the season at setter.
 
MICHAEL SEEMANN IN 200-WIN CLUB
Portland State head coach Michael Seemann earned his 200th career win at Portland State in the Vikings' season opener last season. With the win, 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 victories 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.
 
 

Most Coaching Wins at Portland State (All Sports)
Coach	Wins	Sport	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	209	Volleyball	2007-Present

 












  

Most Coaching Wins at Portland State (Volleyball)
Coach	Wins	Sport	Years
Marlene Piper	445	Volleyball	1969-72, 1974-83
Jeff Mozzochi	371	Volleyball	1984-92, 2001-06
Michael Seemann	209	Volleyball	2007-Present