Away from home

Facing their most challenging away match of the season this weekend at Northern Arizona, the Vikings (16-6, 10-2) hope to keep their stranglehold on second place in the Big Sky conference.

After a two-game home stand, Portland State looks to keep pace with conference leader Sacramento State and remain ahead of third-place Eastern Washington before squaring off with those two squads in the next two weeks.

In their previous match with Northern Arizona (5-6, 10-11), the Vikings easily dismantled the Lumberjacks in a three-game sweep at the Stott Center. Dominant wins have not come as easily or as often for Portland State on the road, as the Vikings have lost two of their last three games away from the South Park Blocks.

Northern Arizona is led by senior outside hitter Kim Babcock, who is averaging nearly six kills per game, and ranked second in the nation in kills per game category.

“She has had an outstanding season thus far,” said head coach Michael Seemann of Babcock. “Despite all the pressure that they put on her, she is performing well.”

Babcock had 19 kills in the two teams’ first match up this season, but she will most likely get more opportunities, with the Lumberjacks fighting for an opportunity to grab the sixth and final spot in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

Late-season road matches are particularly taxing on a squad because of the travel involved and fatigue from all the matches that have already been played. Aside from the traveling concerns, a much-improved Northern Arizona team will certainly provide a challenge for the young Vikings squad.

“This is definitely our toughest road trip of the season,” Seemann said.

After finishing up the long road trip this weekend, the Vikings play at Eastern Washington next Friday, before returning home for the regular-season finale against Sacramento State.

Portland State and Northern Arizona 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3