PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS SWEEP EASTERN WASHINGTON AND IDAHO IN VOLLEYBALL VIKINGS HAVE A SUCCESSFUL WEEK WITH A WIN OVER SOUTHERN UTAH ERIC SHELBY
VOLLEYBALL
Coming in hot after their 3-1 win against Idaho State, the Portland State Vikings traveled to Moscow, Idaho, to play the Vandals and took care of business. Libero Ellie Snook was once again the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week. The Vikings swept the Vandals 3-0 (25-20, 25-21 and 25-19), hitting .398 compared to Idaho State’s .160. PSU’s Makayla Lewis led the team with 14 kills, Zoe McBride made 11 kills and Maddy Reeb ended the game with 10 kills and two blocks. In the second set, the Vikings took social distancing to a new level, leading the Vandals 11-2. Less than 24 hours later, the Vikings travelled to Cheney, Washington, to play the beaten-up Eagles, who lost in three straight sets to Sacramento State in their last game. The Vikings showed no mercy to the Eagles and won 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-17). Once again, Lewis led the Vikings with 11 kills and two blocks. Parker Webb wasn’t far behind with 11 kills and one ace. Here’s a nice statistic: The Vikings have won eight of their last 10 games, and are now at 9-6. PSU comes back home to host the 5-11 Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. and the 5-7 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Saturday, Oct. 9.
colleges,” Bosby said. When that schedule is released in the winter, all away and home games will be on the weekends. “Our games are always on the weekends, we like to make sure that our players can be students first and then athletes,” Bosby explained. “We’d never travel during the week because people would miss classes.” If you’re interested in joining, email the team at psu.wlax@gmail.com.
FOOTBALL
After losing a close game against Montana State, ranked #13, the Vikings will play Southern Utah which, like PSU, has a record of 1-3 and 0-1 in conference play. The Vikings played Southern Utah’s Thunderbirds for the last time as they plan to leave the Big Sky Conference for the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) next year. PSU gave them a good Big Sky farewell, beating the Thunderbirds 20-13. Malik Walker scored the touchdown that secured the win over Southern Utah. Senior quarterback Davis Alexander went 18 for 23 and had one touchdown. Freshman running back Jalynne Mcgee averaged 11.1 yards per game and Beau Kelly led the team in receiving with 59 yards. The game was close through the first three quarters until the Vikings scored a touchdown in the fourth and stopped the Thunderbirds from WOMEN’S LACROSSE After 890 days dormant, PSU’s women’s lacrosse team scoring in the last minutes of the game in a three and out. started practice again Monday, Sept. 27, on a cold, rainy day The Vikings now sit at 2-3, with wins over Western Oregon at Peter W. Stott Field. The team prepares to play again after and Southern Utah, which is now 1-4 and 0-2 in conference its last season was put on hold because of the pandemic. play. With a 1-1 conference record, PSU is eighth in the Big The lacrosse team was founded in 2015 and plays D-II in Sky Conference. The Vikings travel to Moscow, Idaho, to the Northwest Women’s Lacrosse League (NWWLL), with take on the University of Idaho’s Vandals, who suffered other schools in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. a one possession 27-20 loss to University of California The Vikings are ranked 15th in the nation and played Gon- Davis. Idaho is 1-3 (0-1). PSU’s next home game is on Oct. zaga University in the D-II NWWLL championship in 2019. 16, when the Vikings take on 0-4 Idaho State. Portland State Vanguard interviewed one of the head coaches for the season, Krista Busby, about what lacrosse is all about. WOMEN’S SOCCER “We are a club sport which means we are really student- Freshman Abi Hoffman was named Big Sky Player of the led so the students take care of all the leadership,” Busby Week after her hat trick, scoring three goals against the said. The team is always looking for newcomers and holds Sacramento State Hornets in a successful Big Sky Conferpractice at the Peter W. Stott field every Monday, Wednesday ence opener. Assisted by freshman Lucy Quinn, Hoffman took the opportunity and scored by the fourth minute to and Friday from 6:40–8:10 p.m. “We usually have three or four people who have never get an early lead on Sacramento State. played before in any given year and I always love to see The Vikings won that match 4-2, with Hoffman scoring more the growth over the year, so definitely no experience re- goals than the Hornets’s whole team. The last goal of the match quired,” Busby explained. Cleats, workout clothes and a came from Sienna Higinbotham in the 75th minute assisted by mouth guard are all you need to bring to practice; the team Sofi Papastamos. Sophomore goalkeeper Sidney O’Billovich provides everything else. made five saves and the team looked to bring that same energy The season starts in late Jan. and ends in early April. If in Greely, Colorado, against Northern Colorado. The Vikings are the team makes it to nationals, they play through April. The currently 3-6-0 and 1-1 in conference play. With seven games Vikings won’t have a schedule until roughly Nov. or Dec. left this season, PSU looks to see if they can move up the stand“We have to make our own schedules with all the other ings, and are currently sitting at sixth.
10
SPORTS
BASEBALL CLUB
Baseball is attempting to make a comeback at PSU and they are looking for new members to start it up again after the club folded two years ago. The team practices every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Peter W Stott Center, right next to the Viking Pavilion. According to one club hopeful, if they can recruit enough players, the team can get uniforms and join a league. The Vikings plan on playing in a league in Portland, Oregon, since the team before them had to play in Salem, Oregon. If you are interested in joining or know someone who would be interested, email the team at portlandstatebaseballteam@gmail.com to bring back the club sport at PSU.
WOMEN’S WATER POLO
The water polo season begins winter term after a pandemic-induced hiatus. Practices will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights at 8–10 p.m. at PSU’s Recreation Center swimming pool. The Vikings will have three tournaments this winter and spring: one in February, March and April. The Vikings are in the Northwest division and play among other schools like University of Washington, Oregon State and Western Washington. The Vikings ended the 2019 season fourth in the standings. PSU is ready to be back in the water after over 900 days of patiently waiting. Just like the lacrosse team, the Vikings are always looking for new members. No experience required. To join the club or if you have any questions, email the team at ladyvikswaterpolo@gmail.com.
MEN AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Both the men and women’s cross country teams moved up to twelfth in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s rankings after the Roy Griak Invitational and the Mike Johnson Classic on Sept. 24. PSU’s Katie Ca-
PSU Vanguard • OCTOBER 5, 2021 • psuvanguard.com
