FARMINGTON, Utah — The Portland State volleyball team is 2-0 in Big Sky after back-to-back standout performances from its defense. It's only fitting, then, that libero Paige Stepaniuk be named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week Monday, her second weekly honor out of the past three weeks.
 
Stepaniuk and the Viking defense held Idaho State and Montana State to opponent season lows for hitting percentage in back-to-back sweeps for the Vikings last week. The Vikings held the Bengals to .145 hitting last Thursday, which was the lowest mark by a Viking opponent this season until Stepaniuk and the Vikings held Montana State to .128 hitting in the Bobcats' home gym Saturday.
 
Stepaniuk posted match highs in digs in both matches. She recorded 19 digs against the Bengals Thursday, then followed up with 12 digs Saturday against the Bobcats. With her 31 total digs over the weekend, Stepaniuk moved into the career top 10 for digs at Portland State during the program's Big Sky era (1996-present).
 
Stepaniuk was also named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15, after leading the Vikings to a 3-0 record at The Joust Tournament in Riverside, Calif. She also received the honor once as a freshman, giving her three weekly honors in her career.
 
The Vikings are 2-0 in Big Sky play for the fourth straight season. Stepaniuk and the Vikings can go for their first 3-0 start to Big Sky play since 2017 when they host Sacramento State at Viking Pavilion Friday at 7 p.m.