Monday, March 8
Portland, Ore.
7 PM (MT)
Montana
2-12, 2-12Big Sky
1
at
3
Portland State
3-11, 2-10Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 24 | 13 | 25 | 18 | 1 |
| Portland State | 26 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Scott Larson/Portland State Athletics
Vikings complete sweep over Grizzlies
3/8/2021 10:22:00 PM | Volleyball
PORTLAND, Ore. – Similar to Sunday's match, Montana had opportunities to capitalize in Round 2 vs. Portland State on Monday night, but often times was unable to do so, falling in four sets on the road (26-24, 25-13, 20-25, 25-18).
The Grizzlies held set point in the first frame, leading 24-23, but were unable to finish off the Vikings as they closed on a 3-0 run to win the first set and capture the early momentum. The missed opportunity carried over to the second set, which Portland State won by a wide margin, before Montana attempted to mount its comeback.
The Grizzlies used a 9-2 run midway through the third set to turn a 14-12 deficit into a 21-15 lead, winning the frame and keeping their comeback hopes alive. The fourth set featured eight ties early on before Portland State took a 14-11 lead – the largest separation of the set by either team, up to that point.
The Grizzlies fought back to get within one point several times, including 18-17 following a Madi Chuhlantseff kill, but Portland State scored seven of the final eight points to win the match.
"I felt like our passing broke down and put us in some one-option situations on offense," head coach Allison Lawrence said of the fourth set. "We became pretty predictable and were high error in those situations."
Gallery: (3-8-2021) VB: at Portland State (03.08.21)
Montana held Portland State to .169 hitting for the match, but the Grizzlies hit just .123, including a .057 clip in the fourth set. Just as big, perhaps, were Montana's 11 service errors compared to just two aces. On a bright note, Montana out-dug Portland State, which leads the Big Sky Conference and is among the nation's leaders for the defensive category.
Junior libero Sarina Moreno had 20 digs for the second consecutive night, pacing a Griz back row that saw five players record eight or more digs, including sophomore outside hitters Amethyst Harper (16) and Elsa Godwin (15).
On offense, Montana was led by Chuhlantseff, a freshman middle blocker who grew up in nearby Salem. She finished the match with 11 kills on .250 hitting, after recording a career-high 17 on Sunday.
After falling behind by four points on several occasions in the first set, including as late as 17-13, Montana rallied to tie the score at 19-19 on a Meyers kill, and took the lead one point later. The Grizzlies led by multiple points at 22-0 and had a set-point opportunity at 24-23, before Portland State scored on a service error, setting error and receiving error. The Grizzlies lost the set despite holding Portland State to .043 hitting.
"The first set was an anomaly," Lawrence said. "When you get 17 kills in a set you should be winning it, but we gave them half their points in errors."
Montana was able to stay alive with a 25-20 win in Set 3, out-hitting the Vikings .281 to .030 and recording six blocks, after totaling just one through the first two sets. Harper had five in the frame, while Chuhlantseff recorded four. The pair led the Grizzlies with five total blocks on the night.
After three consecutive points went Portland State's way, giving the Vikings a 12-9 lead, Montana responded with a 3-0 spurt of its own to tie the score again at 12-12. Moments later, a 5-0 run put Montana on top 17-14, which it then extended to 21-15. The 9-2 run gave Montana a 21-15 lead, which the Grizzlies held on to.
"It felt like we had a surge of energy and had taken responsibility for our play, which allowed us to take over the set," Lawrence said.
The Grizzlies will now have a bye before they wrap up their spring season March 21 and 22 vs. Sacramento State.
The Grizzlies held set point in the first frame, leading 24-23, but were unable to finish off the Vikings as they closed on a 3-0 run to win the first set and capture the early momentum. The missed opportunity carried over to the second set, which Portland State won by a wide margin, before Montana attempted to mount its comeback.
The Grizzlies used a 9-2 run midway through the third set to turn a 14-12 deficit into a 21-15 lead, winning the frame and keeping their comeback hopes alive. The fourth set featured eight ties early on before Portland State took a 14-11 lead – the largest separation of the set by either team, up to that point.
The Grizzlies fought back to get within one point several times, including 18-17 following a Madi Chuhlantseff kill, but Portland State scored seven of the final eight points to win the match.
"I felt like our passing broke down and put us in some one-option situations on offense," head coach Allison Lawrence said of the fourth set. "We became pretty predictable and were high error in those situations."
Montana held Portland State to .169 hitting for the match, but the Grizzlies hit just .123, including a .057 clip in the fourth set. Just as big, perhaps, were Montana's 11 service errors compared to just two aces. On a bright note, Montana out-dug Portland State, which leads the Big Sky Conference and is among the nation's leaders for the defensive category.
Junior libero Sarina Moreno had 20 digs for the second consecutive night, pacing a Griz back row that saw five players record eight or more digs, including sophomore outside hitters Amethyst Harper (16) and Elsa Godwin (15).
On offense, Montana was led by Chuhlantseff, a freshman middle blocker who grew up in nearby Salem. She finished the match with 11 kills on .250 hitting, after recording a career-high 17 on Sunday.
Chuhlantseff had six kills on .500 hitting in the first set alone, but was held to just one kill compared to two errors in the fourth set. Freshman outside hitter Sophia Meyers was also in double figures for kills, tallying 11. Similarly, though, Portland State defended her well in the fourth frame, as she totaled just two kills and four errors in the final set.Anderson with the quick set to Chuhlantseff for her 11th kill of the night!#GrizVB #GoGriz #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/ORxZ5HOftb
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) March 9, 2021
After falling behind by four points on several occasions in the first set, including as late as 17-13, Montana rallied to tie the score at 19-19 on a Meyers kill, and took the lead one point later. The Grizzlies led by multiple points at 22-0 and had a set-point opportunity at 24-23, before Portland State scored on a service error, setting error and receiving error. The Grizzlies lost the set despite holding Portland State to .043 hitting.
"The first set was an anomaly," Lawrence said. "When you get 17 kills in a set you should be winning it, but we gave them half their points in errors."
Set 2 was all Vikings, as Portland State scored eight consecutive points to take a double-digit lead, 16-6. After hitting poorly in the first frame, Portland State hit .342 in the second, while holding Montana to seven kills at a .028 clip.What a swing by Godwin from the right side🤩#GrizVB #GoGriz #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/qljzJcwzVH
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) March 9, 2021
Montana was able to stay alive with a 25-20 win in Set 3, out-hitting the Vikings .281 to .030 and recording six blocks, after totaling just one through the first two sets. Harper had five in the frame, while Chuhlantseff recorded four. The pair led the Grizzlies with five total blocks on the night.
After three consecutive points went Portland State's way, giving the Vikings a 12-9 lead, Montana responded with a 3-0 spurt of its own to tie the score again at 12-12. Moments later, a 5-0 run put Montana on top 17-14, which it then extended to 21-15. The 9-2 run gave Montana a 21-15 lead, which the Grizzlies held on to.
"It felt like we had a surge of energy and had taken responsibility for our play, which allowed us to take over the set," Lawrence said.
For a while it looked as if Montana had a chance to force a fifth set, hanging with the Vikings point for point in a back-and-forth frame. Neither team held more than a two-point lead until Portland State did at 14-11. Montana got within one point several times from that point forward, but never closer.Moreno with the ACE!#GrizVB #GoGriz #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/Keox70JE7j
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) March 9, 2021
The Grizzlies will now have a bye before they wrap up their spring season March 21 and 22 vs. Sacramento State.
Meyers hammers it down 🔨#GrizVB #GoGriz #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/Sfylf79PX5
— Montana Griz VB (@MontanaGrizVB) March 9, 2021
Team Stats
UM
PSU
Kills
47
47
Errors
28
22
Attempts
154
148
Hitting %
.123
.169
Points
57.0
68.0
Assists
42
44
Aces
2
9
Blocks
8.0
12.0
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballNational Girls and Women in Sports Day 2026
Monday, March 30
Student-Athlete Spotlight: Maddie Pyles (Griz Volleyball)
Thursday, January 15
Griz Volleyball: Name The Person
Tuesday, December 30
Griz Volleyball: Name The Object
Tuesday, December 30
