Vikings Go for First 3-0 Start to Big Sky Play since 2017, Host Sacramento State Friday

Match Notes (PDF)

FIRST SERVE
The Portland State volleyball team started 2-0 in Big Sky play in 2022 … 2023 … 2024 … and … 2025. Four straight seasons. But it's been since 2017 that the Vikings have started the conference season 3-0. That's the goal ahead of the Vikings, as they play host to rival Sacramento State Friday at 7 p.m.

2017 is a uniquely prevalent year for this year's Vikings. The Vikings' 3-0 sweep of Montana State in Bozeman Saturday was their first road sweep of the Bobcats since … 2017. Additionally, the Vikings' back-to-back sweeps to open Big Sky play – the Vikings also swept Idaho State at home last Thursday – are their first since … 2017.

Whether the first 3-0 start since 2017 comes Friday remains to be seen. The Vikings will just be pleased to have turned a corner both offensively and defensively just in time for the start of Big Sky play.

It was only a week ago that the Vikings were lamenting a lack of kill production that cost them in a pair of five-set losses to Oregon and Oregon State. The Vikings averaged just 9.0 kills per set across both matches. Just a little bit higher number could have seen them pull off an upset or two against the bigger in-state schools.

But against Idaho State and Montana State last weekend, the Viking offense averaged 14.0 kills per set while outhitting their opponents .229 to .137.

Outside hitters Alivia Eikenberg and Tyra Schaub stepped up their game individually. Eikenberg averaged 4.33 kills and 2.67 digs per set last week while posting match highs for kills in both matches. The freshman recorded her team-high sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs against Idaho State last Thursday. She then followed up with 15 kills against Montana State Saturday.

Schaub, meanwhile, recorded 10 kills in both matches, including 10 kills on .444 hitting against the Bobcats Saturday. Schaub has now recorded 10+ kills in the Vikings' last three matches, as she also ended non-conference play with a career night against Oregon State on Sept. 20, recording 15 kills on .433 hitting to go with 16 digs.

It wasn't just the pin hitters for the Vikings last week, as setters Allison Panter and Ava Blascziek distributed the ball well. Middle blocker Reese Biesemeyer hit .550 – the highest mark of anyone in the Big Sky Conference averaging at least 3.0 attacks per set through one weekend of the conference season – while averaging 1.83 kills per set last week. Right-side hitters Willow Watson and Sydney Stenson both averaged 1.50 kills per set, while middle blocker Naomi White had 1.00 kills per set on .353 hitting last week.

Defensively, the Vikings put together their best weekend of the season. They held Idaho State to .145 hitting last Thursday. That was a season low for a Viking opponent until the Vikings held Montana State to .128 hitting Saturday. The Vikings had held only two of their 11 non-conference opponents below .200 hitting coming into last week, and yet started Big Sky play 2-for-2 in that regard.

Libero Paige Stepaniuk led the way for the Viking defense, earning the junior her second Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honor in the past three weeks. Stepaniuk averaged 5.17 digs per set across both matches last week, the best average of anyone in the conference through the first weekend of Big Sky play.

The Portland State defense will have to be near that level again Friday, as Sacramento State sports one of the best offenses in the conference this season. The Hornets come into the match ranked second in the Big Sky in hitting percentage (.248) and third in kills per set (12.4). Additionally, they lead the conference and rank 56th nationally with 1.80 aces per set.

It's a mix of familiar and new faces getting it done so far for the Hornets. Sacramento State lost All-Big Sky first-team selections Bridgette Smith and Caitlin Volkmann off last year's team that won the Big Sky tournament title. But they returned three other starters plus their libero from that team, including setter Kate Doorn, who made the preseason all-conference team this season.

Doorn has helped lead the Hornet offense to its hot start. She leads the team while ranking fifth in the conference with 0.39 aces per set individually. Victoria Marthaler leads the Hornets' hitters with 4.18 kills per set, ranking her second in the Big Sky and 38th nationally. Ashlynn Archer, meanwhile, ranks second on the team with 3.02 kills per set.

Archer's been one of the most efficient attackers, not only in the Big Sky but also nationally, as she tops the conference and ranks sixth in the NCAA with a .462 hitting percentage.

The Hornets split their opening weekend of Big Sky play, losing in three sets on the road at Montana Thursday, before bouncing back with a 3-0 victory at home over preseason conference favorite Weber State.

When the Vikings started 3-0 in Big Sky play in 2017, it was Sacramento State that ended the streak with a road sweep of the Vikings. But if the Vikings can get past the Hornets Friday, then they can look beyond 2017 for their next benchmark of success.

MATCH #14: PORTLAND STATE (6-7, 2-0) vs. SACRAMENTO STATE (8-6, 1-1)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Friday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Sacramento State Hornets had won five of six matches entering Big Sky play, including a 3-0 weekend at their home tournament, the Central Cal Challenge from Sept. 18-20. Despite that, the Hornets dropped their Big Sky opener, losing in three sets on the road to Montana last Thursday. They bounced back with a 3-0 sweep of preseason favorite Weber State at home Saturday. The Hornets came into the year picked to finish tied for third in the conference after winning the conference tournament last season. The Hornets lost their top two hitters and All-Big Sky first-team selections Bridgette Smith and Caitlin Volkmann off that team but returned three other starters plus their libero. Setter Kate Doorn, one of the Hornets' returning starters, was named to the preseason all-conference team. Doorn has led the Hornet offense to a strong start to the season. The Hornets rank second in the conference in hitting percentage (.248) and third in kills per set (12.4). They lead the conference and rank 56th nationally with 1.80 aces per set, with Doorn leading the way with 0.39 per set individually, ranking her fifth in the conference. Victoria Marthaler leads the Hornets' hitters with 4.18 kills per set, ranking her second in the Big Sky and 38th nationally. Ashlynn Archer ranks second on the team with 3.02 kills per set. Archer's been one of the most efficient attackers, not only in the Big Sky but also nationally, as she tops the conference and ranks sixth in the NCAA with a .462 hitting percentage. Archer also ranks ninth in the Big Sky with 1.00 blocks per set. Libero Reese Ampi ranks third in the conference and 69th nationally with 4.24 digs per set.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Hornets lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 54-28. That includes a season sweep in 2024, as the Hornets took both regular-season matches and then beat the Vikings in four sets on their home floor within the quarterfinals of the Big Sky tournament. The Vikings had won four of their previous five matches against the Hornets before last season, with their last victory coming at home on Nov. 10, 2023.

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

The Vikings opened Big Sky play with a pair of 3-0 sweeps of Idaho State and Montana State last Thursday and Saturday, respectively. It's the fourth straight season the Vikings have started 2-0 in Big Sky play, but the first time the Vikings have swept their first two opponents since 2017. The Vikings also last started 3-0 in Big Sky play in 2017.
The Vikings held both Idaho State and Montana State to opponent season lows for hitting percentage last week. The Vikings held Idaho State to .145 hitting Thursday, then topped that by holding Montana State to .128 hitting Saturday.
Paige Stepaniuk was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week Monday for the second time out of the past three weeks. Stepaniuk earned the honor after leading the Viking defense to its standout start to Big Sky play. She averaged 5.17 digs per set against Idaho State and Montana State, giving her the conference lead in the category within Big Sky play.
After averaging only 9.0 kills per set in their matches against Oregon and Oregon State the week before, the Viking offense averaged 14.0 kills per set on .229 hitting last week.
Alivia Eikenberg averaged 4.33 kills and 2.67 digs per set while leading the Vikings in kills in both matches last week. Eikenberg recorded her team-best sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs against Idaho State. She followed with 15 kills and six digs against Montana State. Eikenberg heads into this weekend ranked third in the Big Sky in kills (3.39) and fifth in points (3.82) per set.
Tyra Schaub recorded 10 kills in both matches last week, while she hit .444 against Montana State on Saturday. Schaub has now recorded 10+ kills in three straight matches. She's averaging 3.33 kills and 2.33 digs per set within Big Sky play.
The Vikings won both of their two-point sets last week, one each against Idaho State and Montana State. They are now 10-6 in two-point sets this season, as well as 4-2 in sets that go into extra points after winning the third set against Montana State, 26-24.
The Vikings won both opening sets last week, something they did only three times out of 11 non-conference matches before last week. The Vikings are still 5-8 in opening sets this season versus 10-3 in the second sets of matches.
Allison Panter leads the Big Sky while ranking 44th nationally with 0.50 aces per set this season. Paige Stepaniuk also ranks 10th in the conference with 0.31 aces per set, while the Vikings rank fourth in the conference as a team with 1.63 aces per set.
The Vikings rank fifth in the Big Sky and 111th nationally with 2.27 blocks per set season. They've recorded 10+ blocks in six matches this season, two more than they had over their entire 2024 season. Naomi White ranks third in the conference and 97th nationally with 1.22 blocks per set.
Reese Biesemeyer hit .550 across both matches last weekend, the best average of anyone within the Big Sky Conference who averaged at least three attacks per set. Biesemeyer averaged 1.83 kills per set on her .550 hitting percentage last week.
After their two five-set losses to Oregon and Oregon State, Sept. 19-20, the Vikings are now 1-4 in five-set matches this season. Their one win came against California Baptist on Sept. 12, while the four losses have come against Jacksonville State (Aug. 29), San Francisco (Sept.5), Oregon (Sept. 19) and Oregon State (Sept. 20).
The Vikings are 2-6 when losing the first set this season. Their two comeback wins came over New Mexico and California Baptist on back-to-back days, Sept. 11-12, at The Joust Tournament.
Head Coach Michael Seemann described his team's approach to fall camp as, "we've given up continuity for opportunity." To that end, all 16 players saw the court during the non-conference schedule. The Vikings played 12 or more players in five of their 11 non-conference matches and played 11 in three of the other six.
The Vikings have 11 underclassmen on their 16-player roster, while the Vikings' six true freshmen represent the program's largest freshman class since 2019. Additionally, out of the three returning starters from last season, only junior libero Paige Stepaniuk has more than a year experience starting for the Vikings.
Naomi White was named to the inaugural Preseason All-Big Sky Conference team before the start of the season. White, who was one of three middle blockers on the 10-member team, earned the honor after a breakout 2024 season in which she ranked fifth in the Big Sky in hitting percentage (.330) and ninth in blocks per set (1.04).
The Vikings lost their top two hitters from last season – Makayla Lewis and Carisa Barron – as well as 66.5 percent of their total kills in 2024. Naomi White and Reese Biesemeyer represent the Vikings' top two returning hitters after averaging 1.96 and 1.65 kills per set, respectively.
Head coach Michael Seemann needs 12 more wins to reach 300 in his Portland State career. Whenever he reaches the milestone, he will become the third different Portland State head women's volleyball coach to reach 300 wins. Seemann will join Marlene Piper (445 wins, program record, 1969-72 & 1974-83) and Jeff Mozzochi (317 wins, 1984-92 & 2001-06).
Big Sky coaches picked the Vikings to finish sixth in the 10-team Big Sky Conference before the start of the season. Weber State represents the Big Sky Conference favorites, topping the preseason coaches poll with five first-place votes.