PORTLAND—A rough start to the road trip on Thursday did not get any better for Idaho on Saturday. Idaho fell at Portland State, 25-13, 25-18, 18-25, 25-20, dropping its fifth match in a row.

Two different Vandal teams took to the court. Portland State was in control of the match winning the first two sets with relative ease. A more aggressive Idaho team came out in the third and fourth sets, avoiding the Viking sweep and pushing the match to a fourth set.

"If we played like we did in game three at the start I think it would have been a different match," head coach Debbie Buchanan explained. "Talking to the girls—at this point they are putting so much pressure on themselves to win. When we get down two the pressure is lifted and they just go out and play. We have to just come out and play. We were a completely different team than Thursday. It is good to see us compete, we just need to finish."

Portland State (13-9, 5-5 BSC) combined for a .319 hitting percentage (30-7-72) through the first two sets. Idaho, in comparison, hit an even .000 in the first set. The Vandals had better success in the second to total a .110 attack percentage (20-12-73) heading to the break.

Much like Thursday's match at Sacramento State, Portland State was able to use early runs to control the tempo. The Vikings had five 3-0 runs in the first set alone. An 8-0 run in the second set, gave the Vikings a commanding 20-12 lead.

Idaho's (7-15, 2-8 BSC) best numbers of the night came in the third set. The Silver and Gold came out firing, using an early 5-0 run to get to a 8-2 lead. The Vikings climbed back into the set, cutting the lead to 8-7. Three consecutive kills from Becca Mau pushed Idaho to a 12-8 lead. Sarah Sharp and Torrin Crawford helped Idaho to a second 5-0 run, gaining a 20-13 lead. Idaho closed out the set with a kill from Mau to cap a 4-0 run, 25-18.

Idaho hit a team-best .342 (15-2-38) in the third. Sharp totaled five of her match-high 15 kills in the frame. Mau totaled four of her 11 total kills in the third.

The Vandals carried the momentum into the fourth set. Tara Eaton recorded two aces in a 5-0 run, helping Idaho gain a 7-2 advantage. Kills from Sharp and Crawford pushed the lead to 13-6. Portland State used a 5-0 run to cut the Idaho lead to 13-11. A second 5-0 run from the Vikings gave them back the lead at 17-16. Crawford tied the set at 17 to end the PSU run, but Idaho was unable to regain the lead. The Vikings finished the match on a 5-1 run, closing the set at 25-20.

"We are doing some really good things," Buchanan added. "We controlled all of game three and most of game four. Then we let off and we are not at a point where we can do that. We need to make sure that we are really focused in on every single point."

Mau finished with 10 digs to go with 11 kills, giving her her fourth double-double of the season. Crawford finished the night with 10 kills and four blocks. DeVonne Ryter totaled four kills and four blocks, surpassing 200 career kills. Paige Rupiper recorded four kills and four blocks in her three sets.

Idaho will be back at home next Thursday, taking on Idaho State. The match is Idaho's annual Pink Game, in support for breast cancer awareness.
"We are going to work on competing," Buchanan stated. "I felt like we won the serve and pass game tonight. We are going to keep working on that. We just have to compete and play as a team."
 
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