PORTLAND, Ore. — Through one set, the Portland State volleyball team looked like it had the best defense since the 1985 Chicago Bears.
 
The Vikings held Northern Arizona – the team which came into the weekend leading the Big Sky in hitting at .286 – to a negative hitting percentage (-.020) in the opening frame at Viking Pavilion Sunday. Things changed from there, however, as the Lumberjacks found their groove while sweeping the next three sets to beat the Vikings, 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18).
 
It was a quick switch Sunday, as the Lumberjacks (3-1, 3-1 Big Sky) hit .350 in the second set, with 19 kills on 40 swings and only five errors. That was a stark difference from the first set, when the Vikings (1-3, 0-2 Big Sky) forced NAU into 10 attack errors. The Vikings forced a few more errors in the third set, but the Lumberjacks still finished with 18 kills to nine for the Vikings.
 
The Vikings held NAU below their season average for hitting overall in the match, but the Lumberjacks ended up outhitting the Vikings .191-to-.118. Additionally, NAU held an even bigger advantage in kills, out-killing the Vikings 60-to-36.
 
The Vikings had looked like the better offensive team Saturday, when they out-killed the Lumberjacks despite losing in five set. The team couldn't find an offensive rhythm at any point Sunday, however, as they didn't record more than 10 kills in any set. No Viking recorded double-digit kills in the match individually, as redshirt junior Parker Webb led the team with nine. Webb nearly posted her first double-double of the season, as she added 11 digs to her nine kills.
 
Webb also had a season-high six blocks in the match, while the Vikings posted a new season high as a team with 11. Sophomore Julia Haynie led the Vikings with seven blocks, while freshman Ashleigh Barto added three to go with a career-high six kills on .462 hitting.
 
Webb claimed the early momentum for the Vikings with two kills and a block in the team's first five points of the match. Webb's second kill made it 5-2 in favor of the Vikings, and the team would not relinquish the lead over the rest of the first set. Webb added two more kills in a 6-1 run in the middle of the set, the second of which gave the Vikings a 16-9 lead.
 
NAU started to find their groove from there, however, as they drew within three a couple of times late before the Vikings eventually closed out the first set, 25-20. That late momentum for the Lumberjacks helped spark them in the second set, which they opened with five kills on their first eight swings.
 
The Lumberjacks took early leads in the next two sets, as well, as the Vikings were forced to play catch-up each time.
 
The Vikings nearly made a late comeback in the third set, as they fought off three set points before eventually falling, 25-23. The Vikings' block was at its best in the third set, as the team recorded four in the frame with Webb leading the way with three block assists. Webb and Barto combined for a block to save the first set point for the Vikings, while Barto followed with a kill to make it 24-22. The Vikings then won a long rally that featured multiple close saves by the Viking defense, with Webb providing a kill in the end to make it 24-23. The Vikings served the next point into the net, however, to give NAU a two sets to one lead.
 
Senior Maddy Reeb provided a spark for the Vikings off the bench in the fourth set, recording six kills on .600 hitting to go with four digs and a block. The Lumberjacks controlled the set throughout, however, as they closed out the match.
 
Junior setter Ally Wada was the lone Viking to record a double-double Sunday, as she finished with 28 assists and 12 digs to go with a solo block and a service ace. Wada has three double-doubles in three career matches for the Vikings, and is one of six different Vikings to average at least 2.5 digs per set. Fellow junior transfer Zoe McBride is another player averaging over 2.5 digs per set, and came off the bench to record 10 digs, two blocks and two kills Sunday. Freshman Gabby Hollins, who had led the Vikings in kills in their first three matches of the season, had an off day by her standards but still finished with four kills and 11 digs.
 
The Vikings will next play Eastern Washington on Feb. 7 in their first road match of the season. First serve between the Vikings and Eagles on the seventh is scheduled for 2 p.m. (PT).
 
Game Notes: The Vikings fell to 21-31 all time against the Lumberjacks after Sunday…The Vikings were out-dug for the first time this season as NAU recorded 84 digs to the Vikings' 81…The Vikings' 36 kills marked a season low…Sunday's match was the Vikings' first match to go fewer than five sets as the Vikings had opened with three straight five-setters for the first time in program history.