VOLLEYBALL FALLS AT PORTLAND STATE, STILL IN CONTENTION FOR PLAYOFF SPOT WITH ONE MATCH REMAINING

11/19/2010

Olivia Moss had a career-high nine blocks, but it was not enough as the Hornets fell to Portland State

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland State’s Whitney Phillips led all players with 21 kills and Diana Villalpando added a match-high 29 digs to lead the Vikings to a 3-1 victory (20-25, 25-22, 25-11, 25-15) over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference volleyball match Friday evening at the Stott Center.

After Sacramento State took the first set, Portland State (19-8, 14-2) used a 10-3 run midway through the second and never trailed the rest of the match. After hitting .213 in the victorious first set, the Hornets hit .104, .136 and .035, respectively, during the final three sets.

Although Sacramento State (15-16, 8-7) lost, the Hornets are still in contention for the final spot in the Big Sky Tournament (Nov. 26-27), a place the team has been 13 times in 14 years since joining the conference in 1996.

Idaho State (9-6) clinched a berth in the Big Sky Tournament tonight with its victory at Montana State. That leaves the fourth and final spot up for grabs between the Hornets (8-7) and Montana (8-7). Sacramento State travels to Eastern Washington tomorrow night (7 p.m.) while Montana hosts Idaho State at 6 p.m. PST.

If any of the following scenarios occur tomorrow night, Sacramento State clinches a spot in the Big Sky Tournament
• Idaho State beats Montana
• If both Montana and Sacramento State win tomorrow night and create a three-way tie at 9-7 with Idaho State, here is the breakdown: Montana wins their match against Idaho State by a 3-0 score, Montana would get the No. 3 seed, Idaho State the No. 4 seed, and Sacramento State out. Montana beats Idaho State by a 3-1 score, Idaho State would get the No. 3 seed, Montana the No. 4, and Sacramento State out. Montana wins the match against Idaho State by a 3-2 score, Idaho State would get the No. 3 seed, Sacramento State the No. 4, and Montana would be out.

With the win, Portland State clinched the Big Sky’s regular season title, the No. 1 seed, and the right to host next year’s conference tournament. Northern Colorado (13-2), which wraps up its regular season tomorrow evening at Northern Arizona, will assume the No. 2 seed in this year’s tournament.

Portland State outmatched Sacramento State in kills (57-42), hitting percentage (.214-.115), aces (8-4) and digs (100-79). The Hornets did have 12.0 team blocks, including a career-high nine from sophomore Olivia Moss.

Sophomore Janelle Currey (14 kills, 15 digs) was the only Hornet with double figures in kills. Freshman Kayla Beal chipped in eight kills and three blocks and Moss had six kills, nine blocks and a match-best .417 hitting percentage. Junior Eryn Kirby had six kills, 10 digs and three blocks, and junior libero Breanne Menees had 26 digs. For Menees, it marked her seventh match of the season with 25-plus digs.

Portland State had three players finish with double figures in kills, comprised of Phillips (21 kills, 18 digs), Megan Ellis (12 kills, 15 digs) and Christie Hamilton (10 kills, .409 hitting percentage, five blocks).