EASTERN WASHINGTON SWEEPS PORTLAND STATE, ADVANCES TO BIG SKY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Addie Webster had a team-high 16 kills and Chrystal Johnson added 13 to lead Eastern Washington to a three-game sweep of Portland State (30-26, 32-30, 34-32) in the Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinals Friday evening at the Hornets Nest.
With the victory, Eastern Washington (20-8) advances to the Big Sky Tournament championship match tomorrow at 7 p.m. to face the winner of tonight’s other semifinal featuring Sacramento State and Northern Colorado. Eastern Washington advances to the Big Sky championship match for the seventh straight year, as the Eagles knocked off Portland State in last year’s Big Sky Tournament semifinals as well.
Portland State, which received a first-round bye in the tournament by virtue of owning the No. 2 seed, has its season end with a 19-7 record.
Eastern Washington hit .336 as the team finished with 60 kills and just 15 errors in 134 total attacks. The Eagles’ Chelsea Ross had nine kills and a match-high .692 hitting percentage.
The contest remained tight through the latter stages of both the second and third games. Portland State saved two game points in the second frame before an attack error by Jacqueline Thomas gave EWU the 32-30 victory. In the third game, the Eagles saved five game points before finishing the frame with three-consecutive points on kills from Julia Reis and Addie Webster, respectively, and an attack error from conference MVP Jessica Brodie to end the match.
The Vikings were led by Brodie’s match-high 19 kills and 19 digs, and Jessica Frederick finished with 17 kills, a .438 hitting percentage and three blocks.
