Orchestrating a Portland State offense that outhit its opponents .325-to-.131 last weekend has netted setter Madison Friebel her second Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season, the conference announced Monday.
With Friebel leading the way, the Vikings averaged 16.2 kills per set – nearly three kills per set more than any other team in the conference last week – across a pair of road sweeps at Idaho State and Weber State. The Vikings hadn't won both matches of a road weekend at Idaho State and Weber State since 2013, and hadn't swept both matches since 2008. Additionally, Saturday's win over Weber State marked the Vikings' first win over the Wildcats in Ogden since 2015, as well as their first road sweep of the Wildcats since 2012.
Friebel's even distribution fueled both wins last weekend. Four different players recorded at least eight kills in the Vikings' three-set win over Idaho State, while Makayla Lewis, Sophia Meyers and Parker Webb all finished in double figures for kills in Saturday's sweep of Weber State. All told, Lewis (4.0 kills per set), Meyers (4.0 k/s), Webb (3.5 k/s) and Ashlyn Blotzer (3.0 k/s) all averaged at least three kills per set over the weekend, while all four players hit .220 or better.
Thursday's win over Idaho State saw Friebel lead the Vikings to 42 kills on .292 hitting. Blotzer set a season high with 11 kills on .529 hitting as she led the Vikings in kills for the first time this season. Saturday, Friebel led the Vikings to 55 kills on .353 hitting, with Lewis (16 kills on .517 hitting), Meyers (15 kills, .250) and Webb (12 kills, .296) all in double figures. The Vikings' 55 kills marked their most in a three-set match since they had 57 in a three-set win over Southern Utah on Oct. 14, 2017.
Friebel finished with 33 assists against the Bengals Thursday, then followed with 45 against the Wildcats on Saturday. Her weekend average of 13.0 assists per set was nearly three more than the No. 2 ranked player within the conference last weekend, Northern Colorado's Syd Cole at 10.1. Friebel's distribution also meant that Lewis and Meyers ranked tied for third in the Big Sky with 4.00 kills per set last weekend, while Webb ranked tied for sixth with 3.5 kills per set. Blotzer also ranked second in the conference after hitting .517 combined against the Bengals and Wildcats, while Lewis ranked fourth at .365.
Friebel shared Offensive Player of the Week honors Monday with Northern Colorado's Maddie Davies. Davies averaged 3.38 kills per set on .765 hitting in the Bears' road wins at Montana State and Montana.
The Vikings play only one match this weekend, as they host Sacramento State Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. That match will be another battle for first place in the conference, as the Hornets stand second behind the Vikings with the teams 7-1 and 6-2 in Big Sky play, respectively.
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