Keeping pace

Mired in a three-game losing streak just one week ago, head coach Michael Seemann complained that his volleyball team was struggling to make plays in the crucial moments of matches.

But after watching his team easily dispatch Weber State and Idaho State during two solid home victories this weekend, Seemann–despite still constantly tinkering with his lineup and rotation–found some peace in the Vikings’ successful weekend.

“I was proud of the team tonight,” Seemann said after the Idaho State victory (25-20, 26-24, 27-25) on Saturday. “We were really strong at the end of games and we came up with key plays when we needed them. We haven’t had that lately.”

Despite playing against a struggling Idaho State squad (5-17, 2-8 BSC) that had lost seven of their last nine matches, the Vikings (14-6, 7-3 BSC) allowed the Bengals to extend two of the three sets past the 25-point finishing mark.

“They are a tough team despite what their record says, and they played especially well at the end of sets tonight,” Seemann said.

The three-set victory was the Vikings’ second sweep in as many games and returned a bit of the home-court mystique that Portland State has held through the last three seasons of Big Sky play.

The win also helps the Vikings keep pace with Northern Colorado, who sits atop the Big Sky Conference and picked up a pair of conference wins over the weekend against the Montana schools.

Vikings fans who grew accustomed to seeing the same eight or nine players consistently fill roles for the team last year have had to adjust to Seemann’s constant roster adjustments, even on a match-to-match basis-and Saturday’s contest against the Bengals was no different.

The Vikings had 11 players rotating in and out of the game, a strategy that Seemann said he is comfortable with because of the extent of talent on the roster.

“We are 11 to 12 really good players deep and we just haven’t found the right combination yet. Different games and different opponents also mean a different matchup for us,” Seemann said.

Despite the adjustments, the team has leaned heavily on several players to contribute solid play. Junior setter Nique Fradella continued her solid all-around play with 34 assists and 11 digs on Saturday.

Seemann also credited juniors Jennifer Oney and Marija Vojnovic with strong performances from the outside hitter position. Both players had 13 kills, with Vojnovic also providing solid play from the back row with 11 digs.

Seemann said that the strong home-court performances should give the Vikings a bit of momentum heading into their final two-game road trip of the season this weekend, where they head to Montana to face the Grizzlies and the Bobcats.

“I think we set a good tone for the next portion of the season,” Seemann said. “It was nice to get a little momentum at home, but I think we are ready to get back on the road and prove ourselves.”