Portland State University Athletics

LUBBOCK, Texas — There was only a seven-point difference between the Portland State volleyball team and Texas Tech Friday in the final match of the Red Raider Classic. Unfortunately for the Vikings, that still amounted to a 3-0 sweep (25-22, 26-24, 25-23) for the Red Raiders.
 
The Vikings (4-5) led late in every set. They led 20-18 in the first set after a 6-0 run but ended up losing 25-22. They led 23-22 in both the second and third sets but ended up losing both. The Vikings are now 3-7 in two-point sets this season.
 
That's not to take away from the Vikings' showing against a Red Raider team out of the Big 12 Conference. The Vikings held the Red Raiders (6-2) to just .165 hitting. They have held their last four opponents under .200 hitting, including two under .100 Thursday as the Vikings beat Prairie View A&M and UTRGV earlier at the Red Raider Classic.
 
The Vikings put the Red Raiders on the back foot with some tough serving, out-acing Texas Tech 7-to-2 in the match. Freshman Maryn Hall led the way with three aces to set a new career high. Setters Ava Blascziek and Elisabeth Levick added two each.
 
Hall also led the Vikings with 10 kills in the match.
 
The Viking offense wasn't as effective as it had been recently, though. After hitting .300+ in two of their last three matches, the Vikings hit just .119 against the Red Raiders.
 
Right-side hitters Katarina Kosic and Willow Watson had standout matches yesterday. Kosic totaled 23 kills on .400+ hitting in both matches yesterday.  She was still effective Friday against the Red Raiders – six kills on .385 hitting – but the Vikings only got to her for 13 total attacks. Watson, meanwhile, finished with four kills on .000 hitting, though she still led the Vikings with 4.0 blocks.
 
The Vikings also only got seven kills out of their middle blockers, though both were effective. Brenna Coffman recorded five kills on .364 hitting while Reese Biesemeyer finished with two kills on .400 hitting.
 
Friday's match concludes the second of back-to-back trips for the Vikings to the Central Time Zone. They will spend the next two weeks closer to home as they play in-state powers Oregon and Oregon State next Thursday and Friday, respectively. They'll then open Big Sky play at home against Utah Tech and Southern Utah on Sept. 24 and 26.
 
MATCH NOTES:

• The Vikings fell to 2-3 all-time against the Red Raiders. The Red Raiders have won the last three meetings, all after 1983.
• Kosic finished the weekend with 29 total kills on .490 hitting. She averaged 2.9 kills per set.
• Kosic and Watson were named to the Red Raider Classic All-Tournament Team after Friday's match.

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