Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led the Seattle U both offensively and defensively with 16 kills and 19 digs. Karina Miastkowska (Northbrook, Ill.) collected 10 kills, four service aces, and three total blocks, while Julia Bonadio (Phoenix, Ariz.), earning the starting nod in her first collegiate match, finished with nine kills and nine defensive digs. Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) accumulated 42 assists and seven digs, Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) contributed six kills, two service aces, and eight total blocks, and Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) added 11 digs to the effort.
After Portland State (1-0) scored the first four points of the match, Seattle U used three kills and a block assist from Miastkowska to pull into a 6-6 tie, and the rest of the opening set went back and forth. Down 23-20, three consecutive kills by the Redhawks brought about the first of three set point opportunities, but Portland State turned back every chance. A block by Christie Hamilton and two kills from Whitney Phillips clinched the first set for the Vikings.
There were 17 ties and eight lead changes in the second set as neither team was able to put a run together until back-to-back aces by Miastkowska gave Seattle U an 18-15 advantage. The Vikings scored four unanswered points to retake the lead, Phillips followed with consecutive kills, and Garyn Schlatter closed out the second set with an ace to give Portland State a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.
Seattle University came out of the locker room on a roll, scoring the first five points of the third set. Another 5-0 Redhawk run increased the lead to 13-5, but thanks in part to three straight kills by Phillips, Portland State went on its own 7-0 run to tie the set at 15-15. Once again, Seattle University earned multiple chances to win the set, but after three more kills by Phillips held off the Redhawks, she made an attack error that extended the match into the fourth set.
Portland State outscored Seattle University, 17-3, midway through the fourth set to take a commanding 22-7 lead. The Redhawks did not quit, scoring seven unanswered points to pull within eight at 22-14, but the Vikings did enough to finish off the match, as Lana Zielke clinched the victory with a kill.
Phillips finished the night with 32 kills and a .344 hitting percentage, plus she collected 13 digs to help the Viking defense. Schlatter compiled a solid all-around match with seven kills, 37 assists, two service aces, seven digs, and four total blocks, while Alexa Rosendale contributed 10 kills and 16 digs, Domi Kristinikova finished with 19 assists, two service aces, and nine digs, and Viking libero Nicole Bateham collected 15 digs during the match.
"Portland State played well tonight, especially Whitney Phillips with her hitting ability," Seattle U head coach Shannon Ellis said. "This was a good opening challenge for our team, and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do tomorrow in our matches."
Besides Bonadio, freshmen Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) and Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) also appeared in the starting lineup for the Redhawks, while fellow first-year player Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) saw action during the contest. This team was able to take a set from the defending Big Sky regular season champions for the first time in three meetings, as the Vikings had swept the previous two contests over the past two years.
Seattle University (0-1) will need to regroup quickly as it prepares for two matches Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Connolly Center. The Redhawks will first welcome Eastern Washington to the North Court for an 11 a.m. match. The Eagles swept Mercer University in the first match of the Invitational at Seattle Friday morning. Seattle U will conclude the tournament by facing the Mercer Bears later Saturday evening at 7 p.m. After losing to Eastern Washington, Mercer fell to national power Washington at Bank of America Arena in three sets Friday night.