Balanced attack equals another home victory

The Stott Center provided a warm and friendly atmosphere for the road-weary Portland State Vikings (16-6, 9-2), as they easily swept a lowly Montana State (1-22, 0-11) squad in three games (30-19, 30-27, 30-19) Thursday night.

Playing on the road the past two weekends proved a daunting task, as the Vikings lost two consecutive matches to Sacramento State and Weber State. But Portland State bounced back, responding with a four-game victory at Idaho State.

Returning home for a match against Montana State was just the medicine for the team that, with the victory, remains in second place in the Big Sky Conference. The win extends Portland State’s 21-match home winning streak, and continues the Vikings’ dominant play against opponents at home, as they have swept all eight matches at the Stott Center this season.

In one of their most balanced offensive performances thus far this season, the squad picked apart the unreliable Bobcat defense. Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Oney led the team, matching a personal best with 16 kills, and four other Vikings had at least eight kills apiece.

“She is really becoming a more physical player,” said head coach Michael Seemann of Oney.

She has shown great progress and promise switching to the outside hitter position this year.

“As the season has progressed, she has developed more rhythm in her approach at the net and that has created more opportunities,” Seemann said. “We have also really worked on the timing because this is her first year at that position.”

The second round of conference matches allows teams to make adjustments based on their match earlier in the season. Montana State attempted to slow down senior middle blocker Michelle Segun. The lone senior came into the match averaging over three kills per game, good enough for seventh best in the Big Sky.

“Michelle is really attracting a lot of attention, and rightfully so,” Seemann said.

With Segun equaling her per-match average of nine kills and the Bobcats keying in on her, sophomore setter Dominique Fradella took advantage. Fradella was also able to unleash an offensive assault with eight kills on 14 attempts due to the openings in the defense created by Segun’s presence.

Continuing her outstanding play, sophomore outside hitter Marija Vojnovic had 11 kills and a remarkable six service aces, and sustained a .409 hitting percentage. Junior libero Jacqueline Thomas overcame a slow start and finished with 16 digs. Thomas’ stellar defense highlighted the defensive clinic put on by the Vikings, holding Montana State to just 30 kills on the night.

The Vikings will face off with Big Sky bottom-dweller Montana at the Stott Center at 7 p.m. Saturday night.