http://goviks.com/news/2010/11/27/WVB_1127103311.aspx
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State is going back to the NCAA tournament.
After losing a two-set lead, the Vikings hung on for a 3-2 victory over second-seeded Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Championship match on Saturday night at the Stott Center, to earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA tourney.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12.
The top-seeded Vikings (21-8) appeared to be on their way to an easy victory after leading for much of the first two sets, but faltered in sets three and four to turn the match into a nailbiter.
"What an exciting final," said Vikings fourth-year Head Coach Michael Seemann. "I thought we did a good job of establishing ourselves right off the bat. Northern Colorado did a great job of making adjustments and pushing us back the next two sets."
Northern Colorado scored three of the first four points of the deciding set before Portland State finally got back on track. A kill by Whitney Phillips and a Bears' attack error tied it up. With the score at 6-6, Portland State scored two in a row for a two-point advantage. UNC got to within one at 10-9, but eventually the Vikings would earn the victory and extend their season on a kill by freshman Aubrey Mitchell from the right pin.
"I thought the fifth set was a battle. I felt we had some timely blocks at the end there that swayed it in our favor. We also served tougher there in that last set to get them out of system," Seemann said.
Portland State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame and eventually went up 6-1 on a service ace by Alexa Rosendale. Later, a kill by Rosendale made it 15-10 and Northern Colorado called a timeout. The Bears slowed clawed their way back into it and eventually tied it at 20 all after a Portland State attack error. The teams traded points before Portland State scored three straight on a kill by Lana Zielke, another ace by Rosendale and a bad swing by UNC. Two points later, Phillips finished it off for the Vikings with a kill from the left side.
The Bears didn't let Portland State open a big lead in the next set and led 10-8 after back-to-back attack errors by the Vikings. But, PSU responded with four consecutive points to go in front and they never trailed again.
Northern Colorado answered back after the break, registering only three attack errors after committing a combined 16 over the first two sets. The Bears led for much of the third stanza, but PSU was able to tie it up midway through at 16-16. While the Vikings were able to stay within two the rest of the way, they never could quite catch the Bears.
UNC (24-7) kept it going in the forth set and after an early 1-1 tie, they would hold the lead from there.
In the end, though, Portland State came out on top on its home floor, extending their winning streak over Big Sky foes at the Stott Center to 20 straight matches. It was also PSU's ninth straight win of the season.
Phillips was tabbed as the tourney MVP after registering 17 kills and 22 digs. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Zielke (11 kills/4 blocks) and Garyn Schlatter (43 assists/7 kills/4 blocks).
Northern Colorado's Ashley Lichtenberg led all players with 20 kills and was named to the all-tournament team as was Ashley Lichtenberg, who had 15 kills and five blocks.
The Vikings will learn their fate for the NCAA tournament tomorrow at 12 p.m. The selection show will air on ESPNews and the PSU Athletic Department will host a viewing party at the downtown Buffalo Wild Wings.
NOTES: Portland State also advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2008. They have played for the Big Sky Championship in each of the past four seasons ... Rosendale finished with a double-double, tallying 15 digs and 10 kills. Christie Hamilton added 10 kills and five blocks ... after starting the year 3-6, PSU has gone 18-2 since ... the Vikings took all three matches from UNC this season. The Bears defeated PSU in last season's Big Sky Championship match ... over the past four years under Seemann, Portland State has won three regular season titles (2007, 2009, 2010) and two tournament championships (2008, 2010) ... also named to the all-tournament team were Montana's Jaimie Thibeault and Idaho State's Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse.
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State is going back to the NCAA tournament.
After losing a two-set lead, the Vikings hung on for a 3-2 victory over second-seeded Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Championship match on Saturday night at the Stott Center, to earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA tourney.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12.
The top-seeded Vikings (21-8) appeared to be on their way to an easy victory after leading for much of the first two sets, but faltered in sets three and four to turn the match into a nailbiter.
"What an exciting final," said Vikings fourth-year Head Coach Michael Seemann. "I thought we did a good job of establishing ourselves right off the bat. Northern Colorado did a great job of making adjustments and pushing us back the next two sets."
Northern Colorado scored three of the first four points of the deciding set before Portland State finally got back on track. A kill by Whitney Phillips and a Bears' attack error tied it up. With the score at 6-6, Portland State scored two in a row for a two-point advantage. UNC got to within one at 10-9, but eventually the Vikings would earn the victory and extend their season on a kill by freshman Aubrey Mitchell from the right pin.
"I thought the fifth set was a battle. I felt we had some timely blocks at the end there that swayed it in our favor. We also served tougher there in that last set to get them out of system," Seemann said.
Portland State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame and eventually went up 6-1 on a service ace by Alexa Rosendale. Later, a kill by Rosendale made it 15-10 and Northern Colorado called a timeout. The Bears slowed clawed their way back into it and eventually tied it at 20 all after a Portland State attack error. The teams traded points before Portland State scored three straight on a kill by Lana Zielke, another ace by Rosendale and a bad swing by UNC. Two points later, Phillips finished it off for the Vikings with a kill from the left side.
The Bears didn't let Portland State open a big lead in the next set and led 10-8 after back-to-back attack errors by the Vikings. But, PSU responded with four consecutive points to go in front and they never trailed again.
Northern Colorado answered back after the break, registering only three attack errors after committing a combined 16 over the first two sets. The Bears led for much of the third stanza, but PSU was able to tie it up midway through at 16-16. While the Vikings were able to stay within two the rest of the way, they never could quite catch the Bears.
UNC (24-7) kept it going in the forth set and after an early 1-1 tie, they would hold the lead from there.
In the end, though, Portland State came out on top on its home floor, extending their winning streak over Big Sky foes at the Stott Center to 20 straight matches. It was also PSU's ninth straight win of the season.
Phillips was tabbed as the tourney MVP after registering 17 kills and 22 digs. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Zielke (11 kills/4 blocks) and Garyn Schlatter (43 assists/7 kills/4 blocks).
Northern Colorado's Ashley Lichtenberg led all players with 20 kills and was named to the all-tournament team as was Ashley Lichtenberg, who had 15 kills and five blocks.
The Vikings will learn their fate for the NCAA tournament tomorrow at 12 p.m. The selection show will air on ESPNews and the PSU Athletic Department will host a viewing party at the downtown Buffalo Wild Wings.
NOTES: Portland State also advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2008. They have played for the Big Sky Championship in each of the past four seasons ... Rosendale finished with a double-double, tallying 15 digs and 10 kills. Christie Hamilton added 10 kills and five blocks ... after starting the year 3-6, PSU has gone 18-2 since ... the Vikings took all three matches from UNC this season. The Bears defeated PSU in last season's Big Sky Championship match ... over the past four years under Seemann, Portland State has won three regular season titles (2007, 2009, 2010) and two tournament championships (2008, 2010) ... also named to the all-tournament team were Montana's Jaimie Thibeault and Idaho State's Britta Bartschi-Rhodehouse.
