OGDEN, Utah (November 18, 2021) – The 2021 Big Sky Volleyball Championship got underway on the campus of Weber State with four quarterfinal matches. Weber State, Montana State, Northern Colorado, and Portland State advanced today and will play in the semifinals on Friday.
Match 1: # Sacramento State 2, #3 Portland State 3 |BOX SCORE
Sacramento State and Portland State met in the opening match of the 2021 Big Sky Volleyball Championship and treated those in attendance to a spectacular match.
The Hornets and the Vikings went the distance in a quarterfinal match, with Portland State coming away with the victory and advancing to the next round.
Both teams exchanged sets to open the match, with Portland State claiming the first 25-18. The Hornets knotted the match at 1-1 after taking the second set 25-22.
Sacramento State dominated in the third set and held the Vikings to a -0.025 hitting percentage. The Hornets recorded 13 kills and four blocks to win the set 25-17.
Portland State responded with a dominant fourth set of their own that stifled the Hornets' attack. Sacramento State was held to a -0.048 hitting percentage as Portland State recorded 12 kills and 10 blocks. Portland State forced a fifth set with a 25-14 performance.
The fifth set favored the Vikings, who won the set 15-13 and ultimately the match.
Portland State was led offensively by Parker Webb's 16 kills, and on the defensive side of the ball, Genevieve Florig stuffed the Hornets five times.
Bridgette Smith led the Hornets and the match with a high of 20 kills.
Match 2: #2 Northern Colorado 3, #7 Eastern Washington 0 |BOX SCORE
Northern Colorado advanced to the semifinals after their 3-0 sweep of Eastern Washington in the second quarterfinal match of the 2021 Big Sky Volleyball Championship.
The Bears won their three sets with 25-17, 25-20, 25-19 set scores.
UNC's Makenzie Harris and Rachel Hickman had double-digit kill performances in the match. Harris led the match with 12 kills, while Hickman totaled 10 kills across the three sets.
Eastern Washington's Maya McClellan was the Eagles' top offensive performer in the match with an eight-kill and three-block performance.
Match 3: #5 Northern Arizona 2, #4 Montana State 3 |BOX SCORE
Montana State and Northern Arizona took their match down to the wire, but the Bobcats came out on top of the 3-2 decision.
NAU jumped out to a two-set lead, winning 25-16 and 26-24 to open the match.
The Bobcats turned it on in the third set and hit their best mark of the night, a .357. Montana State's defense held NAU to a .121 hitting percentage and only allowed 10 kills.
To complete the comeback victory, Montana State defeated the Lumberjacks in the final two sets, 27-25 and 15-11. Kira Thomsen and Hannah Scott both turned in double-double performances to fuel the Bobcats comeback. Thomsen recorded 26 kills and 11 digs, and Scott had 15 kills and 14 digs.
Jordan Radick had the best hitting percentage for the MSU at .571 and also recorded 14 kills.
Northern Arizona's Taylor Jacobsen had a team-high 20 kills in tonight's match.
Match 4: #8 Montana 0, #1 Weber State 3 |BOX SCORE
Weber State controlled the match with Montana and swept the Griz 3-0 in the final match of the quarterfinals.
The Wildcats won the match with scores of 25-23, 25-15, 25-21 to advance to Friday's semifinals.
Weber State's Rylin Adams led the match with 16 kills and added 11 digs for a double-double performance.
Dani Nay also added 11 kills as she helped secure the sweep for the Wildcats.
Jackie Howell was the team leader for Montana, with eight total kills on the night.
Up Next
Friday's semifinal will begin at 4:00 p.m MT with #2 Northern Colorado meeting #3 Portland State. The nightcap will feature the host of this year's tournament and #1 Weber State facing off with #4 Montana State at 7:00 p.m. MT
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