PORTLAND, Ore. – The Gonzaga volleyball team earned its first sweep of the season Saturday afternoon, defeating Portland State in three sets (25-11, 25-10, 25-20) for a perfect 3-0 record at the Les Schwab West Coast Challenge. The Zags hit a season best .354 with a season-low 11 hitting errors to handle the Vikings in the final match of the weekend.

Gonzaga (3-5) was led by Sarah Penner who was superb on the day, hitting at a .538 clip for 15 kills off 26 tries with just one error. Penner also added four digs and a block in the win. Chapin Gray also finished in double-figure kills with 10, while Tiyana Hallums added a match-high 23 digs. Jenna Kuehn finished with her fourth double-double of the season with 26 assists and 10 digs.

"Our team is beginning to understand the importance of finishing," Gonzaga head volleyball coach Diane Nelson said. "I think they did a great job of recognizing that in key situations. We were also solid defensively, and we were able to dig a lot of balls too."

The Bulldogs were nearly unstoppable in the first and second sets. In the first set, the Zags finished with 14 kills hitting .355 while limiting Portland State (1-8) to just six kills hitting at a .000 clip. Of the Vikings 33 attempts in the first frame, Gonzaga was able to record 3.0 blocks and an even 20 digs. Gray opened the set with a kill for the Bulldogs, and midway through the first set GU had extended its lead to five, 13-8. The Zags finished on a 12-3 run to roll to the 25-11 first set win.

The story of the second set was nearly identical to the first as Gray opened with another kill to give the Zags the early boost. The Bulldogs scored six unanswered and cruised in the second, hitting at a .458 clip to pick up the 25-10 win.

In the third set Gonzaga once more opened with a kill, this time from Peighton De Von. However, multiple attacking and ball handling errors cost the Bulldogs early as the Vikings capitalized for the early 9-5 lead. Portland State held the lead until a service ace from Kennedy Croft late in the set tied the third at 18. Gray delivered with another kill to break the tie, and Gonzaga finished on a 6-2 run to take the set 25-20 and earn its first sweep of the season.

Portland State was led by Peyton McBride with nine kills while Maddy Reeb added 19 assists.

Gonzaga continues play on the road at the Sparky Classic, hosted by Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. Sept. 14-15.