Complete Match Notes (PDF)

FIRST SERVE
If there was a principle or lesson using three u's, the Portland State volleyball team would be in line to learn it this weekend. To put it another way, the Vikings would need only one page of the phone book this weekend, as they face Utah Valley, Utah and UC Davis at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Invitational, Sept. 6-7, in Orem, Utah.
 
The Vikings learned a few lessons last weekend, after going 2-1 at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in St. Louis. Chief among those lessons was that the Vikings could win with a couple of different looks.
 
The Vikings' offense took center stage in the team's 3-0 win over Southern Illinois to open the season, with the Vikings hitting .345 in the win. The Vikings never hit better than .300 in a match last season, and only had three matches where they hit better than .345 two seasons ago in 2017.
 
Parker Webb led the way for the Viking offense with 17 kills, the most by a Viking in a three-set match since Pati Anae had 18 against Southern Utah on Oct. 27, 2016. Additionally, Webb hit .533 against Southern Illinois, the second-best hitting percentage of her career in a match in which she recorded at least 12 kills. Freshman setter Caroline Dragani also shined while recording 39 assists – the most assists by a Viking in her collegiate debut in at least 10 years. 
 
The Vikings' defense then flipped the script in a 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee the next day, as the Vikings held the Blue Raiders to just .060 hitting while recording 16 blocks in the match. The Vikings' hadn't recorded 16 blocks in a match since Oct. 29, 2016, when they had 16 against Northern Arizona. Additionally, the Vikings hadn't held an opponent to .060 hitting or lower since Sept. 2, 2017, when the Vikings held Gonzaga to .056.
 
The competition will take a step up for the Vikings this weekend, as Utah comes into the tournament 4-0 and ranked 19th in the AVCA Coaches Poll, while UC Davis also comes in undefeated on the year.
 
The Utes beat two ranked opponents at their home tournament last weekend, sweeping seventh-ranked Kentucky before winning a five-setter against 23rd-ranked Cal Poly. The Utes stand as the top blocking team in the Pac-12 after the first week of the season, leading the conference with an average of 3.86 blocks per set.
 
The Utes were destined to be a good team this season, as they returned 11 letterwinners and five starters from their 2018 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
UC Davis, meanwhile, already has two wins over other Big Sky teams this season, having swept Montana in their season opener and beaten Sacramento State, 3-1, at home Tuesday night. The Aggies swept all three of their opponents at their home tournament last weekend, beating San Jose State and Pacific (Calif.) in three sets in addition to Montana.
 
Statistically, the Aggies lead the Big West Conference in hitting percentage (.346) and service aces per set (2.08) following the first week of the season. Three different players average more than 3.20 kills per set while also hitting better than .300 for the Aggies. Demari Webb leads the team with 3.62 kills per set while hitting .319, while Mahalia White and Lauren Matias each average 3.23 kills per set while hitting .432 and .330, respectively.
 
Utah Valley, this weekend's tournament hosts, won't be any slouches either, even as they head into the weekend 0-4 on the year. The Wolverines played a tough schedule last weekend, as they faced two ranked opponents at the BYU Invitational in No. 16 Marquette and No. 9 BYU. The Wolverines lost both of those matches in three sets, while the Wolverines have also lost 3-1 to Boise State and Idaho State so far this season.
 
The Vikings open the tournament against host Utah Valley Friday at 10 a.m. (MT), and then return to the court later in the day for a match against the Utes at 5 p.m. (MT). The Vikings will close the tournament with one match Saturday, when they'll face UC Davis at 1 p.m. (MT).
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (2-1) vs. UTAH VALLEY (0-3)
DETAILS: Friday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. (MT) in Orem, Utah (Lockhart Arena)
LIVE STATS| LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY:The Utah Valley Wolverines went 0-3 against a tough schedule over the weekend, and then lost Tuesday night to the Vikings' Big Sky rival Idaho State, 3-1. Playing at the BYU Invitational last weekend, the Wolverines lost 3-0 to then-No. 16 Marquette and No. 9 BYU, before closing the tournament with a 3-1 loss to unranked Boise State. Despite the tough results, senior middle blocker Makaila Jarema was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday, after recording a conference-leading 1.80 blocks per set over the weekend. Jarema recorded 18 total blocks across her team's three matches at the BYU Invitational, including 15 combined between the Wolverines' matches against BYU and Boise State. Jarema didn't play in the Wolverines' match against Idaho State Tuesday night, but the Wolverines still average 2.8 blocks per set as a team. Offensively, Kazna Tarawhiti leads the team and ranks third in the WAC with 4.14 kills per set. Tarawhiti posted 18 kills in the Wolverines' four-set loss to Boise State, and recorded 16 more Tuesday night against Idaho State. Tarawhiti had a double-double against Idaho State with 13 digs to go with her 16 kills against the Bengals. Tarawhiti also had a double-double in the Wolverines' match against Marquette, recording 13 kills and 10 digs. Madi Wardle and Jaysa Funk Stratton have each seen time at setter for the Wolverines, and average 4.83 and 5.71 assists per set, respectively. Seren Merrill leads the team with 4.00 digs per set so far this season, and recorded a season-high 24 against Idaho State Tuesday.
ALL-TIME SERIES:The Vikings lost their only other match against Utah Valley back in 2004, when the Vikings dropped a 3-0 neutral-site match against the Wolverines.
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (2-1) vs. #19 UTAH (3-0)
DETAILS: Friday, Sept. 6, 5 p.m. (MT) in Orem, Utah (Lockhart Arena)
LIVE STATS| LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING UTAH: The 19th-ranked Utah Utes have started the year 4-0, including two wins against ranked opponents. The Utes swept seventh-ranked Kentucky at their home tournament last weekend, and also beat 23rd-ranked Cal Poly in five sets on Saturday. In addition to the ranked wins, the Utes have also swept Saint Mary's and Utah State so far this season. Dani Drews, an All-Pac-12 selection as a sophomore last season, leads the Utes with 3.93 kills per set. Kenzie Koerber, an All-Pac-12 honorable mention last season, also averages over three kills per set at 3.14. Drews had 20 kills and 18 digs in the Utes' win over 23rd-ranked Cal Poly, and also posted a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs against Utah State Tuesday. Koerber ranks third on the team with 1.36 blocks per set, behind Berkeley Oblad and Phoebe Grace, who lead the team with 1.79 and 1.46 blocks per set, respectively. Oblad's 1.79 blocks per set rank her eighth in the Pac-12, while the team leads the Pac-12 with 3.86 blocks per set. Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres has started at setter so far for the Utes, averaging 10.50 assists per set through the Utes' first four matches, good enough to rank fifth in the Pac-12. Four different players average more than 2.00 digs per set for the Utes, led by Brianna Doehrmann, an All-Pac-12 honorable mention last season, who averages 3.29 digs per set. Overall, the Utes return 11 letterwinners and five starters from their 2018 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season before falling to BYU.
ALL-TIME SERIES:The Vikings are 6-0 all time against Utah, though only one of those matches has come since 1984. The Vikings last played the Utes in 2012, when they beat them 3-1 in a neutral-site match. The Vikings are 5-40 all time against Pac-12 opponents, with their last win coming 3-1 over Arizona State on Sept. 2, 2017.
 
MATCH NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (2-1) vs. UC DAVIS (3-0)
DETAILS: Saturday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. (MT) in Orem, Utah (Lockhart Arena)
LIVE STATS| LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING UC DAVIS: The UC Davis Aggies have started the season red hot with four straight wins, including two over Big Sky schools in Montana and Sacramento State. The Aggies swept Montana, San Jose State and Pacific in all three matches of their Aggie Invitational last weekend, and then beat Sacramento State 3-1 on Tuesday night. The Aggies lost their top two attackers from last season in graduated seniors Emily Allen (3.58 kills per set) and Brianna Karsseboom (2.34 kills per set). The Aggies haven't appeared to miss a beat, however, as the team has three players averaging more than 3.20 kills per set so far this season. Demari Webb leads the Aggies with 3.62 kills per set, and has been efficient in doing so as she's hitting .319 with only 11 attack errors so far this season. Mahalia White and Lauren Matias have been similarly productive and efficient as they both average 3.23 kills per set while hitting .432 and .330, respectively. As a team, the Aggies are hitting .346 so far this season, putting them atop the Big West Conference. Sophomore setter Jane Seslar has run the offense so far for the Aggies, averaging 11.08 assists per set to rank fourth in the Big West. The efficiency of the offense means the Aggies haven't had to rely on a block much so far this season, as the team ranks second to last in the Big West with 1.65 blocks per set. Josephine Ough leads the team with 1.20 blocks per set, but no other player averages more than half a block per set. Ally Reyes leads the team with 3.38 digs per set, while Lauren Matias ranks close behind with 2.92 digs per set. UC Davis also leads the Big West with 2.08 service aces per set, while Seslar and Alexa Rockas rank second and third in the conference with 0.69 and 0.62 service aces per set, respectively.
ALL-TIME SERIES:The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Aggies, 13-2, though the Vikings' two losses have come in their last three meetings with the Aggies. The Vikings lost 3-0 to the Aggies at home last season. The Vikings also lost 3-0 to the Aggies at a neutral site in 2016, but then beat the Aggies 3-1 on the road in 2017.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings went 2-1 at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic last weekend, beating Southern Illinois (3-0) and Middle Tennessee (3-1) before falling to host Saint Louis (3-1) in the tournament finale.
• The Vikings hit .345 in their win over Southern Illinois last Friday, the team's best hitting percentage in a match since they hit .351 against Southern Utah on Oct. 14, 2017. Freshman setter Caroline Dragani had 39 assists in leading the Vikings' attack against SIU, the most by a Viking in a three-set match since Erin Clark had 51 assists in the same match against Southern Utah in 2017.
• The Portland State defense recorded its best match in years in the Vikings' 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee Saturday. The Vikings recorded 16 blocks against MTSU, their most since recording 16 against Northern Arizona on Oct. 29, 2016. Additionally, the Vikings held Middle Tennessee to .060 hitting in the match, the lowest hitting percentage by a Viking opponent since Gonzaga hit .056 against the Vikings on Sept. 2, 2017.
• The Vikings started four freshmen and a redshirt sophomore newcomer for all three matches last weekend at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic. Freshmen Caroline Dragani and Ellie Snook started all three matches at setter and libero, respectively.
• Snook and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb were each named to the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic All-Tournament Team.
• Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Jordan White leads the Big Sky with 1.55 blocks per set after the opening weekend of the regular season. White recorded a career-high nine blocks in the Vikings' 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee last Saturday.
• Snook ranks second in the Big Sky with 0.73 service aces per set, as well as third with 4.73 digs per set. Snook had seven service aces combined in the Vikings' two wins last weekend.
 
THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF PARKER WEBB
In her first official match back from an injury that kept her out for all but the first three weeks of last season, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Parker Webb showed the Vikings how much they missed her in 2018. Webb finished with a career-high 17 kills while leading the Vikings to a 3-0 sweep of Southern Illinois last Friday. Webb's 17 kills marked the most by a Viking in a three-set match since Pati Anae had 18 against Southern Utah on Oct. 27, 2016. Additionally, Webb recorded her 17 kills while hitting .533, her second-best mark ever in a match in which she recorded at least 12 kills. Webb again tied for the team lead with 11 kills in the Vikings' 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee, and led the Vikings a third time with 12 kills in their 3-1 loss to Saint Louis. Webb ranks fifth in the Big Sky with 3.64 kills per set following the weekend, and was named to the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic All-Tournament Team.
 
WE'RE HOOKED ON ELLIE SNOOK
The early returns for freshman Ellie Snook as the Vikings' starting libero were nothing but encouraging. Snook made the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic All-Tournament Team following the weekend, after totaling 52 digs over the Vikings' three matches in Saint Louis. Snook finished the weekend averaging 4.73 digs per set, ranking her third in the Big Sky so far this season. Snook was also a standout server for the Vikings, as she recorded seven service aces combined in the Vikings' two wins last weekend. Snook heads into the coming weekend ranked second in the Big Sky with 0.73 service aces per set.
 
LEADER AT THE NET
A major question mark for the Vikings going into their first tournament last weekend was what the Vikings would do at middle blocker. The Vikings have nothing but newcomers at the position, and it showed in the Vikings' first match when they recorded only four blocks, even as the other parts of the Vikings' game gelled in a 3-0 win over Southern Illinois. The Vikings found their answer at the net in the next match, however, as redshirt sophomore transfer Jordan White stepped up to lead the Vikings to a standout blocking performance in the team's 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee. White recorded a career-high nine blocks against Middle Tennessee, while the Vikings recorded 16 blocks as a team for their most blocks in a match since Oct. 29, 2016, when they also had 16 blocks against Northern Arizona. White finished the weekend averaging 1.55 blocks per set, giving her the early conference lead in the category.
 
POWELL'S A GOOD NAME IN PORTLAND
Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Powell made a splash in her debut weekend as a Viking at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic in Saint Louis. Powell recorded her first collegiate double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs in the Vikings' 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee Saturday, and was a kill away from a double-double with nine kills and 13 digs in the Vikings' sweep of Southern Illinois Friday. Powell went into double digits for digs in all three matches last weekend, as she also had 13 digs in the Vikings' 3-1 loss to Saint Louis. Powell averages 3.73 digs per set following the opening weekend of the regular season, ranking her sixth in the Big Sky.
 
CAROLINE IN THE CITY
Freshman setter Caroline Dragani had one of the best debuts of any setter in Portland State history, recording 39 assists in the Vikings' 3-0 win over Southern Illinois Friday. Dragani's 39 assists were the most by a Viking in her collegiate debut in at least 10 years – better even than the debuts of the Vikings' two most prominent recent setters in Erin Clark and hall-of-famer Garyn Schlatter. Additionally, the 39 assists were the most by a Viking in a three-set match since Erin Clark had 51 assists against Southern Utah on Oct. 14, 2017. Dragani averages 8.55 assists per set after the opening weekend of the regular season, ranking her seventh in the Big Sky.
 
VIKING DEFENSE OFF TO HOT START
The Vikings returned to their true identity as a strong defensive team last weekend at the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic. A year after the Vikings ranked last in the Big Sky with a .248 opponent hitting percentage, the Vikings record one of their best defensive matches in several years in their 3-1 win over Middle Tennessee. The Vikings held Middle Tennessee to .060 hitting in the match, the lowest hitting percentage by a Viking opponent since Gonzaga hit .056 against the Vikings on Sept. 2, 2017. Additionally, the Vikings recorded 16 blocks in the match, their most in a match since recording 16 against Northern Arizona on Oct. 29, 2016. As a result, the Vikings now stand first in the Big Sky for digs per set (17.09), third in blocks per set (2.55) and fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.164) following the opening weekend of the regular season.
 
TOUGH SERVING, EASY POINTS
Another identity the Vikings lost during a tough 2018 season was that of being a tough serving team. That already appears to be changing this season as the Vikings totaled 19 service aces in their three matches last weekend, and now rank second in the Big Sky with 1.73 service aces per set. Freshman libero Ellie Snook accounted for eight of the Vikings' 19 service aces over the weekend, and ranks second in the Big Sky with 0.73 service aces per set. Besides her, freshman setter Caroline Dragani recorded four aces last weekend, while senior outside hitter Toni McDougald recorded three. Jasmine Powell and Jordan White accounted for the other four aces with two each last weekend.
 
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          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       206            Volleyball                    2007-Present
 
Most Coaching Wins at Portland State (Volleyball)
Coach                          Wins          Team                           Years
Marlene Piper             445            Volleyball                    1969-72, 1974-83
Jeff Mozzochi              371            Volleyball                    1984-92, 2001-06
Michael Seemann       206            Volleyball                    2007-Present