PORTLAND, Ore. — The collegiate career of Portland State volleyball player Paige Stepaniuk is one week old. And yet, the team's freshman libero earned her first Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week award Monday after helping lead the Vikings to a 2-1 opening weekend at the Hotel Vance Rose City Showdown.
 
So, she's 1-for-1.
 
That's quite the precedent to set for yourself, but Stepaniuk earned the award after anchoring a Viking defense that leads the Big Sky Conference in digs per set (15.3) and ranks second in opponent hitting percentage (.164) after the opening weekend of the season.
 
Stepaniuk played a big role in the team's back-to-back sweeps of Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State over the weekend. Against Cal State Fullerton, she and the Viking defense held the Titans to .055 hitting, the lowest mark for a Viking opponent since University of Portland hit .043 against the Vikings on Sept. 9, 2021. Then against San Diego State, Stepaniuk led all players with 19 digs, nine of which came in the opening set.
 
Outside of her defense, Stepaniuk contributed to the Vikings' strong serving all weekend. She recorded an ace in both of the team's wins, including one of the team's 16 aces – one off the three-set match record – against Cal State Fullerton Saturday. The Vikings now lead the Big Sky while ranking 14th in the NCAA with 2.70 aces per set as a team.
 
Stepaniuk's play helped the Vikings overcome the absence of both of the team's returning All-Big Sky first-team selections. The Vikings were without setter Madison Friebel all weekend, and lost Makayla Lewis to an injury on Friday. They responded with back-to-back sweeps of Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State over the next two days, righting the ship thanks in part to Stepaniuk.
 
The Vikings now hit the road for a tournament in California this weekend. Cal and Saint Mary's will split hosting duties, with the Vikings playing at Cal Friday and at Saint Mary's Saturday. The Vikings open the tournament against Southern Utah at 11 a.m. Friday.