PORTLAND, Ore. — Thin margins define the postseason. That was true again Friday night, as the Portland State volleyball team fell, 3-1 (25-27, 23-25, 28-26, 21-25), to Santa Clara in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at Viking Pavilion.
 
Three of the four sets Friday were decided by only two points, while the largest margin in any set was four points. The Vikings went 2-1 in the deuce sets, losing the first two before extending the match with a 28-26 win in the third. The Vikings saved two match points in the third set, exacting some revenge on the Broncos after they saved five set points to steal the first set, 27-25.
 
If the Vikings (18-13) win that first set, it's likely a different match Friday. The Vikings erased a big deficit earlier in the set to seemingly take control. The Broncos (13-18) led 13-7 before five straight points for the Vikings made it a one-point set at 13-12. The Broncos stretched the lead back out to 17-13, but the Vikings answered with seven straight points to go up 20-17. Sixth-year senior Parker Webb had three kills during the run, while libero Ellie Snook aced the Broncos on the penultimate point of the run.
 
A kill from Ashleigh Barto and a combo block between Jasmine Powell and Ashlyn Blotzer got the Vikings to set point at 24-20. But a Viking service error saved the first set point for the Broncos, while they followed with two kills and a block to make it 24-all. The Vikings earned a fifth set point at 25-24 off a kill from Blotzer, but the Broncos closed with three straight points behind two kills and a PSU error.
 
The Vikings seemingly had control early in the second set, too. They won seven of eight early in the set to go up 8-4, and still led 12-9 after Webb recorded back-to-back kills. The Broncos answered with four straight points to take a 13-12 lead, however. The set then stayed within a point until a 5-0 run for the Broncos got them to set point at 24-20. The Vikings attempted the same comeback the Broncos pulled in the first set – saving three set points behind a kill from Makayla Lewis and two Santa Clara errors – but the Broncos converted their fourth set point with a block.
 
The third set went back and forth between both teams. The Broncos led 12-9 until the Vikings scored six of seven to go up 15-13. Lewis posted two kills during that run, while Webb recorded a kill and an ace. The Broncos came back to tie it at 20-all, but the Vikings pushed out in front again with three straight points, the last coming on a kill from Webb – her sixth of the set.
 
A kill from Lewis two points later gave the Vikings set point at 24-21, but the Broncos came charging back, winning four straight points to earn their first match point at 25-24. The Vikings wouldn't be denied this time, however. Lewis saved the first match point for the Vikings with a kill, while a Santa Clara service error erased a second. The Vikings then earned their fourth set point with a kill from Morgan Halady to make it 27-26, and a Santa Clara attack error followed to give the Vikings the set, 28-26.
 
The third-set win gave the Vikings the upper hand early in the fourth set. They led 6-2 early and kept pushing ahead after the Broncos would come back and tie it. Back-to-back kills from Sophia Meyers and Lewis gave the Vikings a late two-point lead at 19-17, but a PSU service error then bailed the Broncos out. Five service errors came back to bite the Vikings in the fourth set, while they finished with 12 service errors in the match overall. The Vikings took their final lead of the set at 20-19 off a final kill from Webb, but the Broncos closed with five of the final six points to seal the match.
 
Webb led the Vikings with 19 kills against the Broncos. She came into the match needing 16.0 points to match Jessica Brodie (2003-06) for the Division I career record for points at Portland State. She tied the record with her kill to make it 15-13 in the third set, then broke it with one to put the Vikings up 23-20 later in the frame. She finished with 21.0 points Friday, as she added two aces to her 19 kills.
 
Lewis, Barto and Meyers all joined Webb in double figures for kills, giving the Vikings four players with 10+ kills for the first time this season. Lewis finished with 12 kills, while Barto followed with 11 kills on .421 hitting, and Meyers added 10 kills.
 
Snook and setter Madison Friebel both finished with double-doubles for the Vikings. Snook recorded 21 digs to go with a season-high 10 assists, giving her only the second double-double of her career. Friebel, meanwhile, posted her team-leading 13th double-double of the season with 35 assists and 10 digs.
 
Friday's loss ends the Vikings' 2022 season. The season featured the Vikings' best start to Big Sky play since 2012 (9-1), while they made their first appearance in the Big Sky championship match since 2013.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings still lead the all-time series between them and the Broncos, 6-3-1, despite Friday's loss…The Vikings were making their second straight appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, after making the second round of the tournament last year…Snook passed Montana State's Allyssa Rizzo (2016-19) for third in Big Sky Conference history for career digs during Friday's match…The Broncos outhit the Vikings .225-to-.184 Friday…The .200 mark was an important bellwether for the Vikings all season, as they finished the year 18-2 when holding opponents to under .200 hitting and 0-11 when opponents hit .200+.