Author: Rosemary Hansen

While the Portland State women’s basketball team took their winter break from school, they definitely weren’t taking a break from the court. The Vikings ended a successful fall pre-season 9-5, but the momentum was short lived as the team’s three-game winning streak was broken with their first regular season loss to Montana State. The team, picked first in pre-season polls, bounced back last week with wins against Northern Arizona and Weber State.

Last year, the Portland State spirit squad made a significant transition, as the team split into two sections—dance and cheer. Now in their second season since the change, the dance and cheer teams are practicing and performing independently but thriving together.

The transition has been a success but certainly had its challenges. The cheer squad was almost non-existent, fielding under five cheerleaders, after the teams split going into fall 2010. Since then, coach Kenny Tow has taken over the team and recruited the 18 cheerleaders that fans see on the sidelines this year.

The Portland State volleyball team’s season came to an end this weekend, as the Vikings fell to the Northern Colorado Bears in the Big Sky Tournament Championship on Saturday at the Stott Center. The Bears swept the Vikings in three-straight sets to capture the tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Portland State overcame Sacramento State with a 3-1 win in the semi-finals on Friday, however, home-court advantage throughout the tournament wasn’t enough to carry the Vikings past the Bears.

The Vikings finished the 2011 season with a record of 12-4 in conference and 18-13 overall. The team fought against the odds just enough to qualify for the tournament; a season that started with a nine-match losing streak heading into conference play, a roster with seven freshman and the graduation of their 2010 Big Sky MVP hitter.

Portland State women’s volleyball team came up with a big 3-0 win against the Sacramento State Hornets on senior night this past Saturday, and secured the second seed in the Big Sky Tournament next weekend. The win concluded the Vikings regular season with a record of 17-12 overall and 12-4 in conference. The two teams will now face-off for a second time this week on Friday in the conference tournament semi-finals.

Senior libero Nicole Batehamwas honored before the match and ended her regular season career with the Vikings in record-breaking fashion. Bateham led the back-row defense with 28 digs—the most for a three-set Big Sky match in over three seasons.

Portland State women’s basketball guard Eryn Jones added to her legacy last season when she was named the Big Sky Most Valuable Player of the year. Now in her senior season, Jones is ready for a big finish.

The Vikings are looking to redeem their devastating four-point loss last season, which earned Montana the conference’s NCAA bid. This season, Jones wants to lead her team not only to a Big Sky tournament title but also possibly to an exciting run in the NCAA tournament in March.

The Portland State women’s volleyball team earned a spot in the Big Sky tournament after sweeping through their weekend road match-ups. The Vikings defeated non-conference opponents Seattle University on the road in straight-sets on Thursday night, which warmed the team up for a 3-1 win at the Eastern Washington Eagles on Saturday.

The win against Eastern Washington secured this year’s Dam Cup for Portland State. However, with one match left to go in the volleyball season, the Northern Colorado Bears have already been crowned the conference champions.

The Portland State volleyball team will get a night off from Big Sky action when they face non-conference foes the Seattle University Redhawks later this evening on the road. It’s back to conference play on Saturday as the team faces Dam Cup rival Eastern Washington Eagles in another away match.

Currently, Portland State (14-12 overall, 10-4 conference) sits in second place in the standings, a half-game behind the first place Northern Colorado Bears. With only two games left in the Big Sky regular season for the Vikings, Saturday’s contest against Eastern Washington will go a long way in determining this season’s conference champions.

The Portland State women’s volleyball team went into one of the biggest matches of the season against the Northern Colorado Bears and came out with a loss, but quickly bounced back to grab a win against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks later in the weekend.

The Vikings went into Thursday night as the Big Sky conference leaders, but Northern Colorado (14-12 overall, 10-4 in conference) trampled the Viks in a three-set sweep. The Vikings conference standings were on the line on Saturday against a Lumberjack team hoping to stay in the postseason hunt, but a four set comeback victory kept Portland State in second place.

Portland State volleyball sits atop the Big Sky standings only a half game ahead of the Northern Colorado Bears. This weekend, the coveted top spot will be on the line, as the Vikings (13-11 overall, 9-3 conference) face a stern road test in second place Northern Colorado later tonight.

Portland State will then take on the fifth place Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (15-5 overall, 6-4 conference) on Saturday in Flagstaff, Ariz. Portland State holds a slight lead in the title race, but all three teams this weekend mathematically still have a shot at the Big Sky regular season championship. With less than five games left in the season for each team, every matchup has added significance this weekend.

The young Viks have risen to the top. Heading into the weekend, the Portland State volleyball team (13-11, 9-3 in conference) sat in second place in the standings, but after a dominating weekend at home against the Montana schools, the Vikings find themselves leading the Big Sky conference for the first time this season.

Portland State lit up the Montana State Bobcats in a sweep on Friday, then Saturday evening the Vikings easily overcame the Montana Lady Griz in four sets. The young Viks, a team with 10 underclassmen on the roster, are now riding a five-match winning streak.

The Portland State women’s volleyball team take their three-match winning streak back home to the Stott Center this weekend. The team squares up on Friday against the Montana State Bobcats for the annual “Dig Pink Night” night—in support of breast cancer awareness. The match will pit sophomore setter Garyn Schlatter against her younger sister, freshman Kasey Schlatter. Then Saturday evening the Vikings (11-11 overall, 7-3 conference) take on the Montana Lady Griz.