The resumption of in-person classes at Portland State this fall also means that Viking Athletics is back on campus. PSU’s football, volleyball, soccer, cross country and golf teams were the first to begin working out on campus in early August and started competing later in the month.
In reality, Viking Athletics never went away during the COVID-19 pandemic. After six months away from campus, some student-athletes were able to return last October — beginning with the basketball programs — followed by the remainder of student-athletes in other programs by the first of January. Following strict day-to-day COVID protocols, the teams were eventually able to compete with their Big Sky Conference counterparts in abbreviated seasons. It all culminated in May when the Viking softball team won the Big Sky Conference Championship!
However, one thing was missing from competition early in 2021: fans.
Now, the Vikings look forward to playing their traditional seasons in front of fans and, in particular, their fellow students. PSU students have the opportunity once again to take advantage of those games, matches, races and tournaments. All students with a valid PSU ID are allowed to attend any home event FREE.
Portland State Women’s Soccer will be the first program to compete this fall. The Vikings’ first home match is Aug. 21 against Seattle University at Hillsboro Stadium. It will be the first of 10 home matches in a 16-match regular season. Sienna Higginbotham, an All-Conference midfielder from Albany, will lead the Vikings in 2021.
Viking Volleyball plays in the beautiful Viking Pavilion on campus. PSU has a home exhibition on Aug. 23, then two preseason home tournaments in September and eight of 16 Big Sky Conference matches through the league season. They play 16 matches at home overall, led by Big Sky Conference Libero of the Year Ellie Snook, a junior from West Linn.
The Viking Football team will have exciting, televised road games during the non-conference schedule, opening up at Hawai’i (Sept. 4) and Washington State (Sept. 11). PSU begins at home on Sept. 18 against Western Oregon, followed by eight Big Sky Conference games. The first Big Sky home game at Hillsboro Stadium is Sept. 25 against Montana State. Anthony Adams, a consensus All-American defensive back from Newberg, is the Vikings’ top returning player.
PSU’s men’s and women’s Cross Country teams and women’s Golf team will begin competition in September as well.
Thanks to an off-season deal between ESPN and the Big Sky Conference, all league games will be available via live stream on ESPN+. So, if you can’t make a home game, or want to watch the Vikings on the road, you can find them on the worldwide leader in sports.