Get out the brooms; Cats sweep PSU

The Bobcat volleyball team faced off against the Portland State Vikings on Saturday, Feb. 27, and Sunday, Feb. 28, in Shroyer Gym and came away with two more wins. The Cats now sit on a seven-game unbeaten streak, the longest since the 2003 season. The Cats’ overall record is now 8-2. This series also marks the third consecutive sweep for the Cats.

The Saturday matchup went down to the wire when the Bobcats and Vikings were in a stalemate after four sets, forcing a tie-breaker fifth set. The Cats handled the pressure well, winning the fifth set 17-15 after two consecutive kills from senior outside hitter Hailey Merkes. Sophomore outside hitter Kira Thomsen was sensational yet again, recording 26 digs and 17 kills. This suspenseful five-set match marks the third consecutive match to require a fifth set.

In the Sunday rematch, tiredness took over the Bobcat squad after three consecutive hard-fought matches. The Vikings took the first set, 20-25, with the Bobcats and Vikings playing even until a PSU 4-1 run in the back half of the frame. “These five-set matches have taken a toll,” said MSU head coach Daniel Jones. “I thought we were dealing with some fatigue in that first set and it looked like we needed a coffee to get us going.”

After dropping the first set, the Cats stormed back to claim the second frame 25-23. In the third set, the Vikings offense exploded to open things up, at one point PSU led by as much as 14-5. This lead did not last long, as the Bobcats clawed their way back to win the set 31-29. The Cats were again led by Thomsen, who notched 15 kills, and redshirt junior setter Allie Lynch, who recorded 28 assists.

After the game, Jones commended his team for their efforts on the court.“I’m so proud of the team for digging their heels in and refusing to give up,” Jones said. “Just the grit this group is showing and the toughness to control what they can is inspiring. They work for each other and are doing the things great teams do in my mind. They find ways to win even when the game’s not going their way.”

Jones also credited the underclassman for injecting some energy into the match. “The coffee came in the form of some of the young kids,” Jones said. “You have [redshirt freshman outside hitter] Jourdain Klein stepping up big for the second night in a row, and [freshman middle blocker and outside hitter] Avery [Turnage] also gave us a huge contribution coming off the bench.”

Up next for the Cats is a road trip to Moscow, Idaho, where the Bobcats will face-off against the Idaho Vandals on Sunday, March 7, and Monday, March 8. Both games can be streamed on Pluto TV.