CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern (10-10, 6-4) fell to Portland State (5-15, 4-5) in four sets, with a final score of 3-1. Despite a late surge, the Eagles couldn't overcome the Vikings, who showcased a strong performance throughout the match.

"Very disappointing result but Portland played very well and hats off to them," said head coach Jon Haruguchi. "We did some good things but couldn't find the court enough. We have another tough game on Saturday and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be resilient. Success isn't a straight line and I know we are still moving in the right direction as a program."
 
Kalista Lukovich stood out for Eastern, leading with 13 kills and achieving a career-high 19 digs. Bri Gunderson made a significant defensive impact with seven blocks, while Kate Hatch contributed a double-double with 17 assists and 15 digs.
 
The match began with Eastern struggling to find its rhythm, as Portland State jumped to an 11-6 lead in the first set. The Eagles called a timeout, but the Vikings continued their momentum, eventually taking the set 25-18.
 
Set two saw the Eagles rebound with a 5-2 lead, but Portland State quickly tied it up. Eastern regained control and, aided by strong offensive efforts, secured the set 25-23 thanks to a kill from Gunderson.
 
The third set was a tightly contested battle, with both teams exchanging leads. Eastern held a 15-13 lead before the Vikings surged back, ultimately winning the set 25-23.
 
In the fourth set, Eastern fought hard but fell behind 14-10. A 5-0 run gave the Eagles a brief lead, but Portland State responded decisively, taking the last four points to clinch the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
 
Up Next
Eastern will finish out the weekend at Sacramento State on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1:00 p.m.
 
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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