Box Score OGDEN, Utah — Despite being down two-sets-to-one and 9-5 early in a must-win fourth set, the Portland State volleyball team made us all believe another comeback was in the cards at Weber State's Swenson Gym. The Vikings had come back from a 2-1 deficit to beat Sacramento State just a day earlier, after all, and sure enough, the Vikings responded to their early deficit in the fourth set with a 7-0 run that gave them a 12-9 lead.
 
But unlike the Hornets yesterday, Northern Colorado answered the Vikings' run this time, eventually tying the set at 14-all, before a 6-0 run late put them in total control, up 23-18. The Vikings erased two match points a little later to make things interesting, but the Bears closed out the match in four sets (23-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-21), eliminating the Vikings at the semifinal stage of the Big Sky tournament.
 
The momentary belief that another comeback was imminent was well earned as the Vikings (19-10) have repeatedly come back in matches this season. The Vikings came back to win after losing the first set in six different matches this season, including three times in Big Sky play. The Vikings erased an 0-2 deficit against North Dakota State on Sept. 18, the first time they had reverse swept a team since 2016. Additionally, besides Thursday's comeback from a 2-1 deficit against the Hornets, the Vikings also erased a 2-1 deficit at Montana on Oct. 14, which kicked off the Vikings' first road sweep of the Montana schools since 2013.
 
So Viking fans weren't crazy to think another one was in the cards Friday. It wasn't to be, however, as the Bears (23-6) proved to be a different team than the one the Vikings beat at Viking Pavilion on Oct. 23. The Vikings outhit the Bears .182-to-.169 in their earlier match, while out-acing the Bears, 13-to-5. Both of those elements were reversed Friday, though. The Bears outhit the Vikings .254-to-.063, while they out-aced the Vikings, 6-to-5.
 
The Bears' serve proved especially potent late in the first set. With the Vikings leading 21-15, the Bears' Laura Katarzynksi caught fire from the service line, fueling an 8-0 run that gave the Bears a 23-21 lead. The Vikings recovered with back-to-back blocks to snap the run, then followed with kills from Zoe McBride and Parker Webb that completed a 4-0 finish that gave the Vikings the opening set But even with the set win, Katarzynski's serving gave the Bears momentum heading into the second set.
 
She was on the serve again early in the second when she recorded three aces as part of a 7-1 run that gave the Bears an early lead. The Vikings recovered to go up 15-13, but the Bears closed with 12 of the final 15 points to take the set. That run rolled into the third set, too, which the Bears won easily, 25-12.
 
The Vikings' early 7-0 run in the fourth set finally slowed the Bears' momentum, but the Bears bounced back to avoid a fifth set.
 
Webb led the Vikings in kills for the second straight night, following up her 16 against Sacramento State Thursday with 14 on .480 hitting Friday. Webb averaged 3.33 kills per set on .364 hitting in her two matches at the Big Sky tournament.
 
The Vikings also out-blocked the Bears 13-to-10 in the match, with the team's 13 blocks marking their third-highest total in any match this season. Genevieve Florig and Ashleigh Barto led the way with six and five blocks, respectively. Three of Barto's five blocks were solos, the same number she had in the Vikings' match against Sacramento State Thursday. Webb also had three blocks along with Makayla Lewis, who also had three aces to go with eight kills.
 
Friday's semifinal loss doesn't necessarily end the Vikings' season. The Vikings' 19-10 overall record could earn them an at-large berth into the National Invitational Volleyball Championships (NIVC), which runs from Dec. 2-14. The official field for the tournament, which ranges from 32 to 40 teams, will be released two hours after the NCAA selection show on Nov. 28.
 
But even if Friday's loss ends the Vikings' season, they'll be happy – albeit not fully satisfied – with a season that featured:

• Most wins since 2017 (19)
• First Big Sky semifinal appearance since 2017
• Best Big Sky record since 2013 (12-4)
• Best Big Sky road record since 2011 (6-2)
• Three All-Big Sky first-team honorees (Lewis, Ellie Snook, Webb) and one All-Big Sky second-team honoree (Ally Wada)
• Snook repeating as Big Sky Libero of the Year, making her only the fifth player in the history of the Big Sky Conference to do so
• Lewis being named Big Sky Top Newcomer, the first Viking to earn the honor since Jaklyn Wheeler in 2012
• Big Sky Coach of the Year honors for head coach Michael Seemann, his first such honor since 2010
• Best start to Big Sky play since 2012 (7-1)
• Longest winning streak since 2013 (seven matches from Sept. 25 to Oct. 16)

 
Match Notes: The Vikings still lead the all-time series between them and the Bears, 21-19, despite losing Friday…The Bears improved to 5-2 all-time against the Vikings at the Big Sky tournament…Snook did not record an ace in the match, so she'll remain tied with Kaeli Patton for the single-season school record with 46 unless the Vikings get selected to the NIVC tournament…Snook's 0.42 aces per set would also set a new single-season record outright if this is the end of the season for the Vikings.