CEDAR CITY, Utah — A picture-perfect third set wasn't enough for the Portland State volleyball team Sunday, as the Vikings dropped their series opener against Southern Utah, 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16), at America First Event Center.
 
The Vikings hit .355 in the third set, and did not commit an attack error until they had already secured set point at 24-15. For comparison, the Vikings (1-8, 0-7 Big Sky) committed five errors or more in each of the other three sets, and didn't hit better than .150 in any frame outside of the third. Additionally, the Vikings forced the Thunderbirds (3-5, 3-4 Big Sky) into nine errors of their own in the third set, a marked difference from the other sets when the Thunderbirds hit .200 or better in every frame.
 
"We are finding our identity as a team. When we execute and experience success, we thrive. When we feel pressure or have setbacks, it weighs heavily on us, crippling our ability to play aggressively and free," head coach Michael Seemann said of the match afterwards.
 
Gabby Hollins started the third set for the Vikings after not playing in the first two sets, and instantly provided a spark. Hollins led the Vikings with five kills on 11 swings in the frame while adding three block assists.
 
Hollins recorded her first kill on the Vikings' second point of the set, and combined with Julia Haynie for her first block to make it 6-0 as the Vikings took an early advantage. Hollins accounted for four straight Viking points later in the set between three kills and a block – this time alongside Parker Webb – making it 18-9 in the Vikings' favor.
 
Megan Sester also had three kills on four swings in the third set, with her last two coming on the Vikings' 19th and 21st points of the frame. Sester led the Vikings with 11 kills overall in the match, the fourth straight match in which she's finished in double figures.
 
Hollins' final kill of the third set made it 23-14, while an SUU attack error followed to give the Vikings set point. Haynie capped the set for the Vikings with a kill a few points later, one of two she had on four swings in the frame. Haynie matched Hollins with eight kills overall in the match, and did so on .375 hitting.
 
The Vikings couldn't find the same magic in the other sets, however. Early deficits cost the Vikings each time, as the team trailed 10-5, 10-4 and 10-2 in the first, second and fourth sets, respectively. Of all the sets, the Vikings came closest to mounting a comeback in the first, as they got back within two multiple times after falling behind early. The Vikings could never get over the hump, however, and an extended, 8-3 run for the Thunderbirds when they were leading 15-13 essentially put the set away.
 
After three straight matches in which the Vikings hit over .200, the team's offense dropped back under that line Sunday. The Vikings finished at .159, their lowest mark since hitting .118 against Northern Arizona on the second weekend of the season.
 
The Vikings' defense played better than it did against Northern Colorado last weekend, as the Thunderbirds hit .212 after the Bears hit .277 and .339 in their two matches against the Vikings. The Vikings also out-blocked the Thunderbirds 9-to-8, and out-dug them 53-to-52.
 
Serve receive remained a tough spot for the Vikings at times, as the Thunderbirds aced the Vikings eight times Sunday versus five for the Vikings. The Bears aced the Vikings 23 times across their two matches last weekend.
 
Webb led the Vikings with three aces of her own as she posted an all-around against the Thunderbirds. Webb finished with seven kills, seven digs, two blocks and an assist to go with her three aces.
 
The Vikings also recorded their second-most block assists of the season with 18 Sunday. Freshman Ashleigh Barto led the team with five blocks, while Hollins and Haynie finished second and third with four and three blocks, respectively.
 
Junior setter Ally Wada finished with her seventh double-double of the season, as she posted 35 assists and 12 digs to go with one block and a service ace.
 
The Vikings will face the Thunderbirds again Monday, when they'll look to extend the rhythm they found in the third set Sunday across a whole match. First serve between the Vikings and Thunderbirds is set for 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT Monday.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings fell to 12-5 all-time against the Thunderbirds following Sunday's loss…With 14 digs, Ellie Snook upped her career total to an even 800, leaving her 25 from entering the career top 10 during the Division I era at Portland State…Zoe McBride started the match for the Vikings, and finished with four kills and eight digs in her most extensive action since the opening weekend of the season.