PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Portland State volleyball team rallied after a tough start to level its match against Grand Canyon Friday at a set apiece. But a Lopes team picked to win the Western Athletic Conference before the season answered the Vikings' rally, beating the Vikings 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-12, 25-17) to open the GCU Classic.
 
The rally headlined some promising signs for the Vikings (0-7) despite the loss Friday at Global Credit Union Arena.
 
"We certainly started the match slowly, playing in a very hostile environment with several hundred people there. But once we settled down, we battled," Portland State head volleyball coach Michael Seemann said after the match.
 
"I really like the way we defensively made some adjustments and got contributions deep into the roster. I was extremely proud of how tough we were tonight."
 
The Lopes (4-3) ran out to a 6-0 lead behind three early service aces for Bella Anderson, and eventually stretched that lead to 21-12. But the Vikings found their groove after that, winning eight of the next 10 points. The Lopes still won the set, 25-21, but the momentum shift carried over into the second set.
 
The Vikings rallied back from an early 5-1 deficit to eventually take their first lead of the match at 17-16. The Vikings took the lead behind a 3-0 run that featured a kill and a solo block from Makayla Lewis. They never relinquished the lead after that, and eventually won the set on back-to-back kills from Naomi White and Carisa Barron.
 
Five different Vikings recorded at least two kills in the second set. Distribution was a strength throughout Friday's match as the Vikings had three players – Barron (11), Lewis (10) and Reese Biesemeyer (10) – record 10-plus kills for only the second time this season. Biesemeyer, still just seven matches into her collegiate career, was a revelation on the offensive end. She recorded her 10 kills on a team-best .474 hitting percentage, including four kills on .571 hitting in the second set alone.
 
The second set also represented a breakthrough for the Vikings in close sets. Coming into the night, the Vikings were 0-8 in sets decided by two points. Friday's second set broke that streak, even as the Lopes tied the set seven times after the Vikings initially took the lead.
 
The Lopes bounced back themselves, however, winning the third and fourth sets comfortably. The Lopes held the Vikings to .000 hitting or lower in the final two sets, after they had hit over .200 in each of the first two sets.
 
Serving proved a difference maker in the match, as the Lopes out-aced the Vikings 10-to-1.
 
Individually, Barron and Lewis both nearly posted double-doubles, adding nine digs to their 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Biesemeyer coupled her 10 kills with three blocks, tying her with White for the team lead.
 
The Vikings will look to show the same fight tomorrow as they continue at the GCU Classic with a match against Pacific (Calif.) at 4:30 p.m.
 
Match Notes: Friday's match represented the Vikings' first loss to the Lopes after five previous wins in the series between the two teams…Barron's 11 kills represented a season high for her…Paige Stepaniuk led the Vikings with 10 digs in the match.
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