Big Bend is headed for Oregon

First playoff appearance in five years

MOSES LAKE - It was a season that was four years in the making for Michael De Hoog, at least, that is how he explained.

The Big Bend volleyball team captured the fourth seed of the Eastern region with a 3-1 (18-30, 30-27, 30-23, 30-17) win over Yakima Valley in a playoff game Saturday.

"We set the goal at the beginning of the year to get to the tournament and the girls stayed together and I am happy for them," De Hoog said.

After finishing the regular season in a three-way tie with Yakima Valley and Treasure Valley, Big Bend faced off against the Yaks for the third time this season, with the matchup between the two teams all square.

It was Yakima Valley who won the last matchup in a 3-1 win, but coming into the meeting, the Lady Vikings had different ideas.

"They had their minds made up that this was going to happen," De Hoog added.

Especially Rachel Roylance who pounded the net for 19 kills over the four-game spread to help lead Big Bend to the win.

"I knew if I was up the team would be up and I made it a point to do that," Roylance said.

Yakima Valley, who came off a win over Treasure Valley to face off against Big Bend in the loser-out game, continued its momentum push with a 30-18 win over the Lady Vikings.

But, it all ended their for the Yaks.

Big Bend started its momentum push with a 6-1 swing in the second game that included two straight kills from Amber Kisler for a 16-12 lead. The Lady Vikings took a timeout leading 25-24, then went on to win 30-27 to tie the match at 1-1.

The Yaks took a 14-10 lead in game three, but were forced to take a timeout later in the match as Big Bend grabbed a 22-21 lead behind Roylance who had three kills during the lead-change and eventually give the Lady Vikings the win on a kill.

After two straight close wins for Big Bend, domination took control and gave the Lady Vikings its biggest win with a 30-17 victory in the final game to clinch the match and the final playoff berth at the NWAACC tournament.

"Emotions were a little high in the beginning and it showed, but we settled down and came back to win three straight," De Hoog said.

On Thursday, the Lady Vikings will face Lower Columbia, the No. 1 seed in from the Western Region in Mt. Hood, Ore. The Lady Vikings, who are making their first appearance at the NWAACC tournament in five years, feel they have momentum on their side.

"The season is starting now, we need to be peaking and we are and we have done a good job," De Hoog added.