Author: Admin

Despite losing middle blocker Erica Jepsen to an ankle injury early last week, the volleyball team (11-3, 4-0 Big Sky) took care of business at home over the weekend, easily dispatching Montana and Montana State to remain a perfect 4-0 in conference play. Redshirt freshman Tracy Vargas helped get the festivities started Thursday as the Vikings beat the Grizzlies 3-1. Vargas had a career-high 12 kills and hit .529 as head coach Michael Seemann turned to his bench to fill the hole left by Jepsen, who will remain sidelined for at least the next few weeks. In addition to Vargas and sophomore regular Christie Hamilton, sophomore transfer Lana Zielke has seen increased playing time.

The 2007 season was supposed to be her breakout year. After an impressive sophomore campaign, outside hitter Lindsey Steele was set to become a major contributor to the volleyball team. Instead she tore the lateral meniscus in her left knee in the season opener against Stony Brook and spent the rest of the year on the sidelines, forcing her into a spectator role as her teammates dominated the Big Sky Conference and won the regular season title. “I instantly knew I did something, because I couldn’t even jump,” Steele said. “I couldn’t move. It felt really strained. I couldn’t bend my knee more than 90 degrees.”

Void of everyone except a few trainers picking up water jugs, the Stott Community Field still had one Portland State player occupying its turf minutes after football practice ended Monday morning.

With rain dripping from his soaked, disheveled hair, Vikings head coach Jerry Glanville stood in front of the Portland State locker room wearing a long solemn face that completely epitomized the 48-9 loss his team had just suffered to Washington State. Glanville shook his head when he spoke about his team’s performance on the road.

Through two games this season, Portland State has experienced both sides of the spectrum, tasting the sweet glory of victory after beating Western Oregon and the unpleasant bitterness of defeat with their loss to UC Davis Saturday night.

Chuckles filled the office, and the smile beaming from Darrell “Mouse” Davis’ face sparkled as he leaned back in his chair and gazed at Denny Ferguson standing in the doorway. Holding up a green button about the size and shape of a Boston Cream doughnut, Davis nodded to Ferguson and said, “It’s called a ‘Feel Good’ button.”

Coming off a disappointing sweep suffered at the hands of Sacramento State in last year’s Big Sky Championship game, the volleyball team has regrouped for 2008 with a combination of young talent and returning firepower.

Picking the play that cost Portland State its first road win of the season versus UC Davis Saturday night would most likely cause a rather heated debate. That is because there were too many costly missed opportunities to choose from in the Vikings’ 24-38 loss at Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif.

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are two of the greatest actors of their generation, and if Righteous Kill was made 20 years ago, it might have been a great movie.

Hip-hop doesn’t tend to breed team players. Time after time, great hip-hop crews have imploded under the weight of their own egos, shattering distinct creative teams and destroying what made them great in the first place. That’s why it’s refreshing to watch Sandpeople perform. The Portland hip-hop collective, composed of nine MCs and one DJ, know the proper way to rock a stage, despite their intimidating numbers.

Portland is riddled with multiplexes. No matter where you live, it shouldn’t be hard to catch the latest blockbuster at your local Regal Cinemas. But, what do you do when you want to catch a film that doesn’t feature a Batman or a Seth Rogen?