Box Score (PDF)

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A day after sweeping Southern Illinois behind an efficient offensive attack, the Portland State volleyball team proved it could win in a completely different way Saturday as the Viking defense led the way in a 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 28-26) win over Middle Tennessee at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic, hosted by Saint Louis University.
 
The Vikings (2-0) held the Blue Raiders (0-2) to just .060 hitting in the match, the lowest hitting percentage by a Viking opponent since they held Gonzaga to .056 on Sept. 2, 2017. Additionally, the Vikings recorded 16 blocks against the Blue Raiders for their most blocks in a match since recording 16 against Northern Arizona on Oct. 29, 2016. The Vikings only had four blocks in their win over Southern Illinois Friday, but matched or surpassed that total in three of their four sets against Middle Tennessee.
 
Sophomore transfer Jordan White anchored the Vikings' presence at the net with nine blocks in the match between one block and eight assists. Senior outside hitter Toni McDougald also recorded a career-high six blocks in the match between one solo and five assists.
 
The Viking defense was at its best in the third set, when they held Middle Tennessee to -.194 hitting as the Blue Raiders recorded only six kills against 12 attack errors. The Vikings recorded six blocks in that set alone, as the Vikings won the set 25-13 despite recording only seven kills in the frame.
 
The Vikings also forced the Blue Raiders into 12 attack errors in the fourth set, while MTSU never hit better than .140 in any set of the match.
 
Three different Vikings went into double digits for digs, with freshman libero Ellie Snook leading the way with a match-high 16 digs. Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Powell nearly matched Snook with 15 digs in the match, and added 11 kills to record her first collegiate double-double. McDougald added 13 digs to go with her six blocks and seven kills in the match, while redshirt sophomore Parker Webb nearly added a fourth player in double-digit digs with nine, and nearly added a second double-double with 11 kills.
 
The defense was there for the Vikings from the beginning of the match, as the Blue Raiders were still in the red at the 14-11 mark of the first set, when they were hitting -.048. The Blue Raiders found their way into the match from there and took a 21-19 lead, but the Vikings responded by winning six of the final seven points in the set to take the opener, 25-22.
 
The Vikings looked like they were on their way to a 2-0 set lead when they went up 18-13 in the second set, but a youthful lapse from the Vikings led to a 10-0 run for MTSU that eventually leveled the match at a set apiece.
 
Middle Tennessee had its best offensive performance in the second set, when they hit .140 with 14 kills against eight errors. Additionally, after the Vikings hit .200 with 14 kills in the first set, Middle Tennessee held the Vikings to .077 with 10 kills against seven errors in the second.
 
The Viking offense followed with only seven and nine kills in the third and fourth sets, respectively, but that was all the team needed to win as the defense forced 12 errors out of Middle Tennessee in each set.
 
A 5-0 run in the middle of the fourth set put the Vikings in control, up 17-14, as two blocks and an MTSU attack error contributed to the run. The Vikings still led 22-18 when Middle Tennessee made it interesting with a 5-1 run that leveled the set at 23-23. The Vikings stayed in front as the set went past 25 points, however, and back-to-back service and attack errors from MTSU gave the Vikings the set, 28-26, and ended the match.
 
Service was another key advantage for the Vikings throughout the match, as they recorded more aces, 8-to-7, and committed fewer service errors, 6-to-10, than the Blue Raiders. Snook and freshman teammate Caroline Dragani tied for a team-high with three aces each, while Powell and White both added an ace. Snook also had four service aces in the Vikings' win over Southern Illinois Friday, giving her seven service aces in seven sets so far this season.
 
Dragani got the start at setter again for the Vikings, recording 28 assists, five digs and two block assists to go with her three service aces.
 
The Vikings return to the court later Saturday for a match against host Saint Louis. That match will close out the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic, and will start at 7 p.m. (CT).
 
Match Notes: Saturday's match was the first-ever meeting between the Vikings and the Blue Raiders…The Vikings improve to 7-1 all time against opponents from Conference USA…Powell's double-double made her just the second Viking freshman to record a double-double since Caitlin Bettenay had 10 kills and 13 digs against Sacramento State on Nov. 5, 2016 (Peyton McBride was the other freshman after having five double-doubles last season)…The 2,000-mile trek to St. Louis, Mo., for the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic is the longest non-conference trip within the contiguous 48 states for the Vikings in 13 seasons under Seemann.