PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State volleyball team can expect to be stronger at the net next season, as the Vikings added assistant coach Elizabeth Field to the coaching staff Thursday.
 
Field spent the past two seasons at Big Sky Conference rival Idaho State, helping coach the Bengals' setters and middle blockers specifically. Behind Field, the Bengals led the Big Sky and ranked third in the nation for blocks per set in 2024. In 2025, they again led the Big Sky while ranking 29th nationally.
 
Field – who also served as recruiting coordinator and made offensive play calls at Idaho State – helped lead the Bengals to a second-place finish in the regular season in 2024, when they also made the program's first appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Bengals went on to make the championship match at the 2025 Big Sky tournament, upsetting No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Northern Arizona along the way.
 
"We're excited to welcome Elizabeth to the Portland State volleyball family," head coach Michael Seemann said of Field. "She brings a strong volleyball background, a passion for developing student-athletes, and an energy that will be a great fit for our program and our culture."
 
Field brings a wealth of her own playing experience to her role as assistant coach. As a professional player in Finland, Field captained her Liigaploki team to a Finnish Cup Championship during the 2019-20 season. She also played professionally for teams in Romania, Germany and Czechia.
 
Field competed collegiately at Wichita State where she helped lead the Shockers to NCAA tournament berths every year she was there. Field and Shockers made the Sweet 16 in 2012, while they swept the Missouri Valley regular-season and tournament titles in 2013. She left the program ranked in the top 10 all-time for sets played (fourth), attack percentage (eighth), total blocks (eighth) and block assists (eighth).
 
"I am absolutely thrilled to be on the Viking Volleyball staff and am very grateful to Michael for the opportunity to join his crew. Working alongside staff with resumes like his and Diana's is a privilege and I am honored to be able to contribute to the program," Field said of joining the Vikings.
 
Field takes over a young but talented middle blocking group at Portland State that includes junior Reese Biesemeyer and sophomores Katie Brewer, Brenna Coffman and Willow Watson. All four saw time on the court last season as the Vikings played with 11 underclassmen on their 16-player roster.
 
A little more attention from Field, and that young core at the net will be a strength for the Vikings in 2026.