PORTLAND, Ore. — Forty years after the 1984 Portland State volleyball team won the university's first NCAA national title for a women's team, that squad – along with its 1985 counterparts, which repeated at NCAA Division II national champions – will be inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame at the Night of Champions event on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
The 1984 and 1985 Portland State volleyball teams will be inducted alongside two-time World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe, three-time College World Series champion coach Pat Casey, Portland Timbers Ring of Honor member Diego Valeri and Team Handball Olympian Rick Abrahamson.
KGW's Orlando Sanchez and former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett will emcee the event, which will be hosted by Sport Oregon at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.
The 1984 Portland State volleyball team swept its way to the NCAA Division II national title. They played four matches at the national tournament and swept all four in three sets, beating James Madison, New Haven, Sam Houston State and CSUN. The matches against Sam Houston State and CSUN were played in front of the Vikings' home crowd as Portland State hosted the NCAA Division II Final Four.
Lynda Johnson Black and Lisa Couch led the 1984 team as a pair of AVCA First Team All-Americans. Theresa Huitinga was an AVCA Second Team All-American as a member of the 1984 team.
All three players also played on the Vikings' 1985 championship team, and repeated their respective All-American honors. Johnson Black, who was also the National Player of the Year that season, became the first volleyball player in NCAA history to be named first-team All-American four straight years.
The 1985 Portland State volleyball team won its final 23 matches of the season, including a 3-1 win in a rematch with CSUN in the national championship match.
The Night of Champions also features a celebration of the many standout achievements from the top athletes and teams across the state of Oregon over the past sporting year. A highlight in Oregon sports for decades, this year's Oregon Sports Awards will recognize the top athletes, teams and coaches at high school, college and professional levels throughout the state.
"The Night of Champions is not just about reflection, it's a forward-looking celebration of the talent and dedication that these athletes and teams have brought to our community," said Jim Etzel, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Oregon. "It is with pride that we gather to honor this diverse group of sports legends and champions whose achievements have left an indelible mark on Oregon's sports history."
Tickets for the Night of Champions are available to purchase at the
event website. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and will include complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages. The awards presentation will begin at 7 p.m.
