Montana pushed Portland State to five sets but fell 25-16, 16-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8, as the Vikings extended their winning streak to seven. The Grizzlies had more kills and digs, but 30 attack errors and a flat fifth set proved costly. Delaney Russell led Montana with 16 kills and 13 digs; the loss leaves the Grizzlies needing a strong road trip to keep their postseason hopes alive.

By the Numbers
  • Portland State: 13-12 overall, 9-5 in Big Sky play; Montana: 7-18, 3-11.
  • Montana made 30 attack errors and hit .184; Portland State hit .234.
  • Russell posted 16 kills and 13 digs. Madeline Sanderson led the match with 20 digs.
Yes, But

Montana showed improved execution and resilience, winning the second and fourth sets and limiting a Vikings team known for its serving to three aces. But the Grizzlies’ fifth-set struggles—five errors in the shortened set—undid that progress.

State of Play
  • Montana is 1-2 in five-set matches this season.
  • The Grizzlies sit behind Idaho and Eastern Washington in the Big Sky standings, with the top eight teams advancing to the conference tournament.
What’s Next

Montana travels to face Idaho and Eastern Washington next week. A sweep would move the Grizzlies into eighth place and put them in control of their postseason chances.

Bottom Line

Montana has shown it can compete, but postseason hopes now hinge on converting that fight into consistent execution—especially when the match is on the line.