FIRST SERVE

Less than a week after reveling in the joyous return of fans to Viking Pavilion, the Portland State volleyball team hits the road for its first two official matches of the 2021 season Friday and Saturday. The Vikings head down to Eugene for matches against No. 14 Oregon and Santa Clara Friday and Saturday as part of the Oregon Invitational at Matthew Knight Arena. The Vikings won't have to wait long for their return to Viking Pavilion, though, as they host San Jose State Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
So, just as the Vikings felt the embrace of home fans for the first time in almost two years Monday, they'll see opposing fans in the stands for one of the few times in that same period of time.
 
The Vikings got a taste of opposing fans last year, as different state regulations allowed for fans in some Big Sky arenas last season, but Friday's season opener against No. 14 Oregon will likely be a step up from that.
 
Portland State has prepared for this, as head coach Michael Seemann intentionally introduced more competitive elements to fall practices this season. Whereas last year, state regulations meant the Vikings only had a handful of 6v6 practices going into their first conference match, the Vikings played 6v6 on the first day of fall camp this year. Additionally, Seemann quelled his urge to set up skill drills in favor of more simulated game action, with the hope that his players would learn better in a competitive environment.
 
Seemann warned that those lessons might not take hold for a little bit, though you wouldn't have known that from the Vikings' dominant, 5-0 exhibition win over Central Washington on Monday afternoon. The Vikings held the Wildcats to negative-.043 hitting in the match, while totaling 14 blocks as a team.
 
Depth proved the major theme of the exhibition win for the Vikings, as five different players recorded at least eight kills, six different players recorded at least three blocks, and three different players recorded at least 10 digs.
 
Fifth-year senior Parker Webb led the Viking offense with 12 kills on .346 hitting despite playing only four sets of the match. Sophomore Gabby Hollins followed with 11 kills on .233 hitting in only three sets of action. Fifth-year senior Maddy Reeb chipped in nine kills, while Zoe McBride and Makayla Lewis contributed eight each. Lewis was the only player to fit in all three stat categories listed above, as she added 13 digs and four blocks to her eight kills Monday.
 
Lewis also highlights two other themes besides competition that could shape the Vikings' season. Lewis checks the boxes as both an upperclassman and a new transfer on the Vikings' roster. As an upperclassmen, Lewis is one of 10 juniors or seniors on the roster this season, giving the Vikings a majority of upperclassmen for the first time since 2018. Additionally, Lewis' status as a transfer makes her one of five on the Vikings' roster this season, joining McBride (formerly at Morgan State), Ally Wada (San Francisco), Genevieve Florig (UCONN) and Sydney Rabe (UW Green Bay). Florig and Rabe, along with Lewis, joined the Vikings before this season, while McBride and Wada joined the Vikings before last season.
 
McBride and Wada were impact transfers for the Vikings last season, as they combined for 15 double-doubles between the two of them. Wada posted 11 double-doubles out of 17 matches she played in last season despite joining the Vikings less than a month before the season started.
 
Impact players color the rosters of the Vikings' opponents this weekend. The 14th-ranked Ducks feature AVCA All-America Second-Team selection Brooke Nuneviller, who ranked third in the Pac-12 Conference with 4.04 digs per set and eighth with 3.46 kills per set. Santa Clara, meanwhile, features six-foot, five-inch Julia Sangiacomo, an All-WCC first-team selection last season, when she ranked second in her conference with 4.17 kills per set. Haylee Nelson and Latahevai Lousi of San Jose State both earned All-Mountain West honors last season after averaging 3.70 and 3.44 kills per set, respectively.
 
Facing those players will test how well the Vikings learned to compete in fall camp. Competing is taking your opponents' best shot and then firing back, after all.
 
And if the Vikings do that, then maybe they'll silence some of those opposing fans.
 

MATCH #1: PORTLAND STATE (0-0) vs. #14 OREGON (0-0)

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Friday, Aug. 27, 1 p.m. PT, Eugene, Ore. (Matt Knight Arena)
SCOUTING OREGON: The 14th-ranked Oregon Ducks advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season before falling 3-1 to Purdue. The Ducks finished second to Washington within the Pac-12 Conference last season after going 14-4 in conference play. Brooke Nuneviller returns to lead the Ducks after making the AVCA All-America Second Team last season, when she finished third in the Pac-12 with 4.04 digs per set and eighth with 3.46 kills per set. Nuneviller, who was named to the preseason all-Pac-12 team last Wednesday, also led the Pac-12 with 16 double-doubles, four more than the next player on the list. Besides Nuneviller, the Ducks also return every starter from last season between Abby Hansen, Karson Bacon, Gloria Mutiri, Kylie Robinson and Taylor Borup, as well as libero Georgia Murphy. Bacon and Mutiri joined Nuneviller on the AVCA Pacific North All-Region Team, while Murphy earned honorable mention. Mutiri also made the all-Pac-12 team alongside Nuneviller last season, while Bacon and Murphy received honorable mention.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Ducks, 27-21, though the Ducks have owned the series of late. Oregon has won its last seven meetings with the Vikings, as well as 10 of its last 11. The teams have only faced each other five times since the year 2000, however, with the Ducks winning all five matchups. 
 

MATCH #2: PORTLAND STATE (0-0) vs. SANTA CLARA (0-0)

DETAILS: Saturday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m. PT, Eugene, Ore. (Matt Knight Arena)
SCOUTING SANTA CLARA: The Santa Clara Broncos finished 5-13 last season within the West Coast Conference, though they went 21-12 the year before and qualified for the NIVC tournament. The Broncos were picked to finish fifth in the West Coast Conference this season, while six-foot, five-inch junior outside hitter Julia Sangiacomo made the all-WCC preseason team. Sangiacomo was a beast for the Broncos last season, earning first-team all-WCC honors after ranking second in the conference and 39th in the nation with 4.17 kills per set. Sangiacomo also made the AVCA Pacific North All-Region Team last season, and was a second-team all-WCC and WCC all-freshman player in her first year with the Broncos. The Broncos lost their starting libero last year in Gretchen Reinert, who led the team with 3.48 digs per set, but return both setters in Michelle Shaffer (6.27 assists per set) and Liliana Light (4.67 assists per set). The Broncos also return outside hitter Sophia Tulino, who ranked second on the team with 3.52 kills per set as a freshman. No other player besides Sangiacomo and Tulino averaged more than 1.4 kills per set for the Broncos last season.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Broncos, 5-2-1. The teams have played only twice since 1986, however, with the Broncos winning both matchups. The Vikings and Broncos last played in 2017, with the Broncos winning in three sets.
 

MATCH #3: PORTLAND STATE (0-0) vs. SAN JOSE STATE (0-0)

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Sunday, Aug. 29, 12 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE: The San Jose State Spartans went 7-9 last season during their COVID-shortened winter season. The team returns its top two hitters off last year's team in Haylee Nelson and Latahevai Lousi, who averaged 3.70 and 3.44 kills per set, respectively. Both Nelson and Lousi earned All-Mountain West honors last season, the second such honor for both players after Nelson was also honored in 2019 and Lousi in 2018. Nelson received the honor after ranking fourth in the conference for kills per set, while Lousi ranked close behind at sixth. Nelson also ranked fifth in the Mountain West with 0.39 service aces per set. The team also returns libero Sarah Smevog, who averaged 3.56 digs per set last season, as well as starting setter Mia Schafer, who averaged 8.56 assists per set. Overall, the Spartans were a better offensive team than they were a defensive team last season, as the team ranked fourth in the Mountain West or better in hitting percentage (4th, .226), kills per set (3rd, 12.92), assists per set (2nd, 11.95) and service aces per set (3rd, 1.73). On the flip side, the Spartans ranked last in the Mountain West in blocks per set (1.53) and 10th out of 11 teams in opponent hitting percentage (.240).
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Spartans lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 3-1. The teams haven't played since 2010, however, which is the teams' only meeting since 1999. The Spartans won that meeting in 2010, 3-2, on their home court. 
 

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• The Vikings have been practicing 6v6 a lot during fall camp – even doing so on day one – with head coach Michael Seemann emphasizing competition. That's a change from the Vikings' COVID-affected 2021 winter season, when the team wasn't cleared to practice 6v6 until days before the season. The Vikings played their first conference match last season with a handful of 6v6 practices under their belts.
• The Vikings have more upperclassmen (10) than underclassmen (6) for the first time since 2018. The team has three fifth-year players in Genevieve Florig, Maddy Reeb and Parker Webb.
• The Vikings added six newcomers over the offseason between three true freshmen – Morgan Halady, Teniyah Leuluai and Lily Snook – and three transfers – Genevieve Florig, Makayla Lewis and Sydney Rabe. Florig came in as a grad transfer from UCONN, Lewis played two years at San Jose State, while Rabe was at UW Green Bay last year but didn't play and remains a redshirt freshman. Florig joins Zoe McBride, who transferred to the Vikings before last season, as players from the Portland area who started their careers at other Division I schools before transferring back to the region.
• The Vikings returned five starters and their starting libero from last year's team that finished the season with five wins in their last six matches. The highlight of the Vikings' late-season renaissance was a 3-1 win at Sacramento State, the program's first road win against the Hornets since 2014.
• Junior Ellie Snook was named the Big Sky Libero of the Year last season after finishing the year with an average of over 5.00 digs per set for the second straight season. Snook averaged 5.73 digs per set in the team's last six matches, five of which were wins for the Vikings. Snook also received 80 percent of opponents' serves in the team's last six matches, according to head coach Michael Seemann, which helped precipitate the Vikings' late-season resurgence.
• Lily Snook joined her sister Ellie on the Vikings' team this season. Their father, Jamie Snook, also played men's basketball at Portland State from 1996-99. Additionally, their cousin, Jake Porter, plays for the Vikings' football team, and Jake's dad played baseball at Portland State in the 1990s.
• The Vikings led the Big Sky and ranked 46th in the nation with 17.13 digs per set as a team last season.
• The Vikings showed depth in their 5-0 exhibition win over Central Washington Monday, as five players finished with at least eight kills, six players finished with at least three blocks, and three players finished with at least 10 digs.
• Setter Ally Wada, in her second year with the Vikings after transferring from San Francisco, had 11 double-doubles in 17 matches last season.
• Sophomore Ashleigh Barto ranked sixth in the Big Sky with 1.07 blocks per set as a freshman last season.
• Maddy Reeb would have exhausted her eligibility last year, but decided to come back for a fifth year after the NCAA granted all volleyball players an extra year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reeb split time between being a setter and an outside hitter during her first four years at Portland State, but will play exclusively on the outside this season. Reeb's versatility saw her become the first Viking since 2010 to record a triple-double last year, which she did twice during the season.

 

THE VIKS ARE GOOD ON DEFENSE, YA DIG?

The Vikings' defense was a strength for the team last season, when they led the Big Sky while ranking 46th in the nation with 17.13 digs per set as a team. Six different Vikings averaged over 2.25 digs per set last season, led by Ellie Snook, who ranked second in the Big Sky and 41st in the nation with 5.07 digs per set individually. Zoe McBride and Ally Wada ranked a close second and third on the team, respectively, with 2.65 and 2.64 digs per set. Parker Webb (2.37 d/s), Jasmine Powell (2.31 d/s) and Gabby Hollins (2.29 d/s) all joined them above the threshold. Additionally, the Vikings ranked fifth in the Big Sky with an opponent hitting percentage of .182, and also ranked sixth in the conference with 1.96 blocks per set. Ashleigh Barto, then just a freshman, led the Vikings at the net while ranking sixth in the conference with 1.07 blocks per set.
 

ELLIE SNOOK, DEFENSIVE MASTER

Ellie Snook joined elite company within the Viking program while being named Big Sky Libero of the Year last season. Snook joined Kasimira Clark (2012, 2013) and Tasha Bojanic (2017) as Vikings who have earned the honor, giving the program four honorees in the past nine seasons. Snook earned the honor after bookending her sophomore season with a strong start and finish to the year. Snook recorded six straight 20-dig matches to open the season, and then closed the year averaging 5.73 digs per set over the Vikings' last six matches, five of which resulted in wins. Individually, Snook ranked second in the Big Sky and 41st in the nation with 5.07 digs per set last season. The part that doesn't count towards that, however, was Snook's role in serve receive. A late-season switch in strategy had Snook receive 80 percent of opponents' serves, according to head coach Michael Seemann, and the Vikings saw a dramatic drop in aces against them from then on. Opponents averaged 1.58 aces per set over the last four weekends of the season after averaging 2.26 aces per set over the previous four. Snook's role in serve receive also helped the Viking offense get in rhythm for its strong stretch run. The Vikings hit .207 as a team over their last six matches after hitting .173 over their first 12. 
 

A WHOLE LOTTA WADA

Senior Ally Wada made a massive impact in her first season with the Vikings last season despite barely making it to Portland before the season started. Wada didn't make it to Portland until late December 2020, and yet was playing with the Vikings one month later during the team's 2021 winter season. Wada finished with 11 double-doubles in only 17 matches last season. Wada had her best stretch of last season while recording back-to-back 50-assist matches against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8 and Northern Colorado on Feb. 15. Wada finished with 56 assists and 15 digs against the Eagles on the 8th, and then followed with 53 assists and 15 digs against the Bears on the 15th. Wada finished last season ranked fifth in the Big Sky with 8.33 assists per set.
 

RAISING THE BAR-TOH

Ashleigh Barto emerged as a force at the net for the Vikings as her freshman year progressed last season. Barto recorded 30 blocks over a five-match stretch late in the season, giving her an average of 1.5 blocks per set in that span. Barto's hot stretch has moved her into the Big Sky top 10 for blocks, where she finished the year sixth with a season-long average of 1.07 blocks per set. Barto had seven blocks, including a career-high three solo blocks, in the Vikings' 3-1 win at Sacramento State, the team's first road win against the Hornets since 2014.
 

YOUNG NO MORE

The Vikings will have more upperclassmen (10) than underclassmen (6) this season for the first time since 2018. The team has been developing its young players over the past two seasons, and now has as many fifth-year seniors (3 – Genevieve Florig, Maddy Reeb, Parker Webb) as they do true freshmen (3 – Morgan Halady, Teniyah Leuluai, Lily Snook). It's a far cry from where the Vikings' roster was two years ago, when the team featured seven freshmen and nine underclassmen on their 12-player roster.
 

DIVISION I TRANSFERS

The Vikings have added six Division I transfers in the past two seasons. Zoe McBride (Morgan State), Megan Sester (Cal Baptist) and Ally Wada (San Francisco) joined the Vikings before last season, while Genevieve Florig (UCONN), Makayla Lewis (San Jose State) and Sydney Rabe (UW Green Bay) joined the Vikings before this season. McBride and Wada finished with four and 11 double-doubles, respectively, in the team's shortened 2021 winter season. Lewis, meanwhile, was the only Viking to finish with at least eight kills, four blocks and 10 digs in the team's 5-0 exhibition win over Central Washington Monday.
 

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

Big Sky coaches picked the Vikings to finish sixth in the conference before the season. If that were to come to fruition, it would mark the Vikings' highest finish within the conference since 2017, when they placed fourth. A sixth-place finish in the Big Sky would also see the Vikings return to the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2017, when they made it to the conference semifinals before losing to regular-season champion and host Sacramento State.