Vikings look forward to home games

In a conference where any volleyball team can be upset on any given night, Portland State cannot afford to overlook either matchup this weekend. Despite starting with Idaho State, a team that is only 9-11, the Vikings need to be prepared to battle tonight if they want to extend their four-game home winning streak.

Idaho State, even with their poor record, is not a team to be ignored. They have already claimed wins against Northern Arizona and both of the Montana schools. With good outside play, including that of outside hitter Emily Walderson, who leads the team in kills, the Bengals know how to put points on the board.

“Idaho State is a very good team. We’ll treat them just like we’re treating everybody: one match at a time, one point at a time,” head coach Michael Seemann said.

Hoping to lean on the play of their middles—Lana Zielke, Erica Jepsen and Christie Hamilton—the Vikings will have to continue their strong hitting performances, as well as up their blocking to keep this match from being close.

With their second game of the weekend against Weber State on Saturday, the Viks have an opportunity to get revenge against a team that handed them their first conference loss of the season. After losing the first in Ogden, they now get a chance to even the series to 1-all at home.

“I think they are a solid team,” Seemann said. “They are a high-risk, high-reward team. They will come at you with a lot of offense.”

Weber State leads the conference in aces and is a dangerous team that has had particular success against the Vikings. In their game earlier this season, the play was very teeter-totter, and the team that led early pulled out the win in each of the five sets.

“No one ever really fought for a point,” said Seemann of the last matchup against Weber State. “If we’re not focused on the net, we’re going to put ourselves in the same situation.”

In what should be a good test to start the second half of conference play, the Vikings are starting to increase their focus for the final stretch of the season. Coming out of this stretch with two wins would not only cement their status as a top team, but also give them a mental boost after a tough first half of the season.

“The last two days have been good practices,” Seemann said. “I think we’re doing the right things to prepare ourselves.”