Portland State University Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland State head volleyball coach Michael Seemann knew there'd be inconsistencies for his team that features 12 underclassmen on its 18-player roster this season. For every wax, there may be a wane.
 
Saturday, the Vikings simply ran into a more experienced, cohesive Montana State team, losing 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-22) to the Bobcats at Viking Pavilion.
 
"I was disappointed in a lot of the closing parts of the sets, both one and three. I felt like we were better in those moments against other teams," Seemann said. "We were too error prone tonight. It felt like we'd give up points at the try line or give up points attacking and that's too good of a team [Montana State] to just give points away because they're very, very consistent. Very solid," Seemann said after the match.
 
The Vikings (6-11, 2-4) had appeared to figure out how to play late in sets Thursday night when they controlled the end game in a 3-1 win over Montana. But Saturday, the Bobcats (11-6, 4-2) didn't let the Vikings mount the comebacks they got away with against the Grizzlies.
 
The Vikings tried to come back late in the first set. After trailing 19-14, the Vikings won seven of nine points to get back level at 21-all. Right-side hitter Willow Watson had two kills during the run, while setter Ava Blascziek had a kill and an ace.
 
But errors at inopportune times bit the Vikings from there. A PSU service error got the Bobcats out of a bad rotation, and MSU did just enough to close out the first set, 25-23.
 
The Vikings got out to a good start in the third set. Two early blocks helped spur a 10-5 start for the Vikings. Asya Akbulut and Katelyn Davey also provided a spark off the bench for the Vikings, as they subbed on in a 6-2 formation for the third set. Davey recorded two kills on five swings in the set, while the offense-first formation let middle blockers Reese Biesemeyer and Brenna Coffman to combine for five kills on .625 hitting.
 
The Bobcats eventually came back to take the lead at 18-17, though, and the Vikings never found themselves ahead again. They got back within one late at 22-21 with a kill from Biesemeyer, but back-to-back kills from the Bobcats got them to match point, which they converted on their second opportunity.
 
The Bobcats held the upper hand offensively throughout the match, outhitting the Vikings .284-to-.149 and out-killing them 49-to-32. Three different Bobcats went into double figures while a fourth had nine kills.
 
Alivia Eikenberg led the Vikings with seven kills to go with eight digs. Coffman and Watson finished with six kills each. No other Viking had more than four kills.
 
The Vikings will hit the road for their next three matches, starting with a road trip to Idaho (Oct. 15, 7 p.m.) and Eastern Washington (Oct. 17, 12 p.m.). They'll then play at Northern Arizona the following Tuesday, Oct. 20, before returning home for their Pink Out game against Northern Colorado on Oct. 24.
 
MATCH NOTES:

• The Vikings had a three-match win streak over the Bobcats snapped with Saturday's loss. They still lead the all-time series between them and the Bobcats, 51-28-1.
• Seemann stays on 299 career wins at Portland State.
• The Vikings are 6-10 in two-point sets after losing their lone one Saturday.

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