When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2What: Portland State (11-3, 4-0) at Northern Arizona (10-2, 2-1)Where: J.C. Rolle Activity Center, Flagstaff, Ariz.On the air: www.bigskytv.org (audio and video) and FSN Arizona
Stars: Portland State has depth at the outside hitter position but is led by junior Jennifer Oney who is averaging 2.6 kills per game. Defensively, the Vikings depend on senior libero Jalen Pendon-Thomas’ 4.5 digs per game from the back row. Northern Arizona is led by their own dependable senior libero, Brittany Stowers, who leads the nation with 6.29 digs per game.
Just a taste: With Portland State junior middle blocker Erica Jepsen still out with an ankle injury, look for the Vikings to struggle on the road against one of the best teams in the conference. Sophomores Lana Zielke and Tracy Vargas have picked up the slack thus far for the Vikings in Jepsen’s absence. The Vikings have taken seven straight matches from the Lumberjacks, their last loss coming in 2004 in Flagstaff.