GREELEY, Colo. — The recent breakthroughs for the Portland State volleyball team couldn't deliver the program its first road win at Northern Colorado since 2013. The Bears continued their hold over the Vikings at Bank of Colorado Arena with a couple of tight set victories in a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-11, 26-24) Saturday.
 
The Vikings (13-9, 6-5 Big Sky) had opportunities to win both the first and third sets. They led the first set early, then held a 22-21 advantage before the Bears won four of the last five points in the frame. The third set was similar. The Vikings led 23-20, but then gave up six of the final seven points as the Bears closed their sweep with a 26-24 set victory.
 
Victories in close sets had been part of the Vikings' breakthrough over their last three matches. The Vikings had been 4-3 in sets when both teams scored over 20 points during their three-match win streak. But Saturday, the Bears (11-10, 6-4 Big Sky) took both of those types of sets as they came up with the clutch plays late.
 
The Bears also stymied some of what led to the Vikings' three recent victories. The Vikings had been hitting .286 while averaging 14.1 kills per set since the end of the second set against Montana State on Oct. 19. Saturday, however, the Bears held the Vikings to .184 hitting with only 33 kills across three sets.
 
Balance had been a hallmark of the Vikings' recent offensive breakthrough, but Sophia Meyers was the only Viking in double figures with 11 kills. Middle blockers Ashleigh Barto and Lauryn Anderson chipped in nine and six kills, respectively, with both hitting .500+, but no other outside hitter had more than three kills besides Meyers.  
 
Additionally, the Vikings had recorded 10+ blocks in all three of their recent wins but were held to just 5.0 against the Bears. The Bears also out-aced the Vikings, 6-to-2, something no team did during the Vikings' win streak.
 
Things looked to be rolling for the Vikings early in Saturday's match. A 5-0 run that included two aces from Anderson put the Vikings up 11-6 in the first set. The Bears won six of the next eight points to get back within one, but the Vikings stayed ahead until late in the set. A 3-0 UNC run gave the Bears their first lead of the frame at 21-20. Back-to-back kills for Gabby Hollins put the Vikings up one at 22-21, but the Bears earned the final momentum swing with four of the last five points.
 
That late shift in momentum carried over to the second set, as the Bears ran away with it, 25-11.
 
The Vikings rebounded in the third set. They won 10 of 12 points to take control of the set up 19-13. Anderson capped an initial 4-0 run with a kill and a block (with Meyers), while Barto chipped in two kills in the final six points of the scoring outburst.
 
Just as they did in the first set, though, the Bears got back in it in a hurry. After PSU led 20-14, the Bears scored five of the next six points to get back within two at 21-19. The Vikings stayed ahead behind kills from Barto and Anderson that gave them a 23-20 lead, but the Bears earned the final momentum swing once again with six of the final seven points to close out the victory.
 
Meyers hit .278 on her 11 kills while adding seven digs and two blocks. Barto hit .529 on her nine kills. Anderson was a perfect six-for-six in the third set before finishing at .556 by the end of the match.
 
Freshman Paige Stepaniuk led all players with 17 digs Saturday.
 
The Vikings return home for their next three matches, beginning with a homestand against Idaho and Eastern Washington next weekend. The run at home begins Thursday, Nov. 2, when the Vikings host Idaho at 7 p.m.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings fell to 22-23 all time against Northern Colorado after Saturday's loss…The Vikings won the first meeting this season between them and the Bears, winning 3-1 at Viking Pavilion on Sept. 23…The Bears have won 10 of the last 12 meetings between them and the Vikings.
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