CHENEY, Wash. — A tough passing night cost the Portland State volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to Eastern Washington Thursday night on Reese Court.
 
The Eagles (8-9, 2-3 Big Sky) recorded 15 aces against the Vikings (9-6, 2-2 Big Sky), the most by a Viking opponent this season. The previous season high for a Viking opponent had been nine aces, and yet the Eagles matched that after only the first two sets of the match.
 
The poor passing meant the Vikings weren't able to find a rhythm offensively for the second straight match. The Vikings have now hit under .150 in back-to-back losses to Sacramento State and Eastern Washington after only doing so once through their first 13 matches of the season. The Eagles recorded 11.0 blocks in stymying the Portland State offense, less than a week after Sacramento State had 18.0 against the Vikings.
 
Six of the Eagles' 15 aces came in the opening set, as the Eagles ran away with the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Vikings appeared to turn a corner early in the second set when they jumped out to an early lead. The Vikings quickly went up 7-2, then stretched it to a 10-point lead at 15-5. A 7-2 Viking run later in the set put the Vikings two points away from leveling the match at 23-14. Gabby Hollins scored all seven points during that stretch between six kills and an ace, part of 14 kills for Hollins over the first two sets of the match.
 
But Eastern Washington wouldn't go away. Eight straight points for the Eagles made it just a one-point set again at 23-22. Even as the Vikings closed out the set with back-to-back kills from Sophia Meyers, the Eagles had reclaimed momentum and wouldn't give it up at any point over the next two sets.
 
Hollins finished with a team-high 15 kills Thursday, but only one of those 15 came in the final two sets of the match. Meyers finished with a double-double of 11 kills and 12 digs. Setter Madison Friebel also had a double-double with 29 assists and 14 digs, both season highs.
 
Jasmine Powell recorded five kills on her first five swings after coming off the bench late in the third set and finished with six kills in the match. Middle blocker Lauryn Anderson had five kills on .417 hitting for the Vikings.
 
The quick turnaround for Saturday afternoon's match against the Vandals, which starts at 1 p.m., now offers the Vikings a chance to wash away the bad taste of Thursday's match. It's no mystery where the Vikings' focus will be until then.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings still lead the all-time series between them and the Eagles, 35-31, despite Thursday's loss…The Eagles have won four of the last seven against the Vikings, however…Hollins has now recorded at least 14 kills in the last five matches for the Vikings.
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