MISSOULA, Mont. — Coming off an emotional Senior Day victory and facing an early start time Thursday, the Portland State volleyball team never got the engine fired up, dropping a 3-0 decision (25-13, 25-21, 26-24) to Montana at Dahlberg Arena.
 
Slow starts cost the Vikings (16-10, 9-6 Big Sky) in the opening two sets in what was already going to be a tough environment. By the time the Vikings were finally warmed up and leading 24-19 in the third set, the Grizzlies used a 7-0 run in which they saved five set points to close out the sweep.
 
"I believe we can control how we approach points, how we process adversity or challenges associated with the road. We didn't do that well today, and with this loss, we can learn from it by taking more control of how we compete and play," Portland State head coach Michael Seemann said afterwards.
 
The Vikings were already behind the eight ball, playing in an arena where Montana (11-16, 7-8 Big Sky) had only lost twice at home within conference play. Giving up a 7-0 run that put the Grizzlies up 16-7 in the first set didn't help. Neither did an early 10-3 deficit in the second set.
 
Throughout the match, the Grizzlies were able to put long runs on the Vikings. It was a 7-0 run to build their lead in the first set, then six straight points to close out the opening frame. In the second set, the Vikings climbed back from the early seven-point deficit to tie it at 21-all, but then gave up four straight to the Griz to drop the frame. The Vikings finally appeared to have the upper hand in the third set, only to give up the final seven points to the Griz.
 
The Vikings found their offense after the first set but couldn't limit the Grizzlies at any point on the opposite side of the net. The Grizzlies hit .279 or better in all three sets and outhit the Vikings .349-to-.227 for the match. The .349 hitting percentage for the Grizzlies is the second-best mark by a PSU opponent this season, trailing only the .366 mark Sacramento State hit against the Vikings last Friday. The Viking defense has now allowed three of its last five opponents to hit .300 or better, though the Vikings still beat the Hornets at home last Friday.
 
It's no secret where the Vikings' focus will be going into Saturday's regular-season finale at Montana State.
 
Offensively, the Vikings picked up their play after hitting .036 in the opening set. They followed that with a .282 hitting percentage and 15 kills in the second set, then topped that by hitting .302 with 20 kills on 24 points in the second set. Five different players recorded at least six kills for the Vikings, solid distribution for a three-set match.
 
Sophia Meyers and Gabby Hollins finished with 10 kills each to lead the Vikings. Meyers added 11 digs for her 17th double-double of the season while also chipping in three aces. All three aces came on consecutive points as she led a 5-0 PSU run in the second set that got the Vikings back in it.
 
Delaney Nicoll, Kendra Duffey and Lauryn Anderson followed with six kills each. All six of Nicoll's kills came in the third set when she hit .385 for the Vikings. Duffey recorded her six kills on 12 swings without committing an error, giving her a team-high .500 hitting percentage. Anderson, who leads the Big Sky in hitting percentage within conference matches, hit .400 on her six kills against the Grizzlies.
 
Despite Meyers' three straight aces, the Vikings lost the serve-and-pass game, giving up 10 aces to the Grizzlies.
 
The Vikings will want a better performance to end the regular season when they face Montana State Saturday at 6 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. MT. A better start and more fire will certainly help.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings still lead the all-time series between them and the Grizzlies, 57-20…The Grizzlies have won four of their last five against the Vikings at home…Meyers' 17 double-doubles are tied for the fifth-highest single-season total in program history.
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