Box Score PORTLAND, Oregon – Idaho opened the spring 2021 on the road falling to Portland State,3-2. The Vandals (0-1, 0-0 BSC) and the Vikings (1-0, 0-0 BSC) each opened their seasons on Sunday and will face off again tomorrow to complete the nonconference series. Both sides will start conference play next week.

Kennedy Warren led the Vandals with 14 kills and chipped in five blocks on the day.  Donnée Janzen recorded 25 assists, while Alaina Lacey chipped in with 23 digs. Bea Whitling led the Vandals with seven blocks in her Idaho debut.
 
After falling behind 0-1, Idaho took the next two sets and held a 2-1 lead. Portland State controlled the fourth set from the beginning and held off a Vandal comeback to force a tie-breaking fifth set. The Vandals trailed 2-7 early in the fourth set before an Allison Munday kill tied the set 20-20, capping an 18-13 Vandal run. Portland State held off Idaho's comeback the rest of the way winning 25-22, forcing a fifth set.

In the fifth set Becca Owen opened with a service ace for the Vandals to lead 1-0. Idaho and the Vikings traded points in the early goings of the fifth set until the Vikings mounted a four-point lead,10-6. The Vandals were unable to chip away at Portland State's lead the rest of the way, falling 15-8 and 3-2 in the match.

Idaho posted 11 total blocks in the contest compared to nine for Portland State. The Vandals also recorded two service aces and only four service errors while the Vikings had four service aces, but 10 service errors.

The Vandals are back in action tomorrow, Jan. 25, against Portland State at 1 p.m.