(Editor's note: Montana State Athletics press release)
PORTLAND, Oregon -- Led by outside hitter Toni McDougald the Portland State volleyball team out-hit Montana State .211 to .142, en route to a 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 25-13 victory over the Bobcats on Thursday night in Viking Pavilion.
McDougald finished with a match-high 17 kills and added 19 digs to pace Portland State (8-12, 4-5) to the four-set victory.
Montana State (9-9, 5-4) came out strong in the opening set, but with the scored knotted at 23-all, PSU’s Parker Webb served two consecutive aces to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
MSU struggled to find its offense in the second frame as PSU grabbed a 2-0 advantage out-hitting the Bobcats .058 to -.045.
Coming out of intermission, Montana State grabbed the momentum back hitting .357 as a team, while holding PSU to .257. The Cats built a 14-9 lead on a Kelsie White kill and finished off the set on a kill from Evi Wilson.
PSU turned the table in the fourth set taking an early 14-6 lead and never looked back for the win.
“We were out of system too much and it was frustrating to say the least, but a good lesson nonetheless,” said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. “We didn’t play to our strengths and let them play to theirs and it was a rough night. The silver-lining was the fact that our kids never quit. They fought to the end.”
MSU was led by Kira Thomsen and Hannah Scott with 11 kills, apiece. Thomsen and Scott also recorded double-doubles, adding 13 and ten digs, respectively. Defensively, Allyssa Rizzo led all players with a match-high 30 digs, averaging an impressive 7.5 saves per game.
Montana State will host Sacramento State on Saturday night in Shroyer Gym.
