Lady Vikings continue streak

Big Bend has a new kick in its step.

The Lady Vikings posted its third straight win with a 3-2 (30-24, 19-30, 24-30, 30-18, 15-13) victory over Yakima Valley, placing them a game above .500 in league competition. Something Big Bend couldn't accomplish last year.

"The girls are really believing in themselves now and are more confident," said head coach Michael De Hoog.

In the last three meetings with Eastern region opponents, Big Bend has had to play to five games twice and has come away victor both times.

The Lady Vikings were led by middle-hitters Rachel Roylance and Amber Kisler, who attacked the net for a combined total of 25 kills. Jen Nagy and Lindsay Idler kept feeding the two inside hitters the ball, posting a combined 48 assists between the two setters.

Yakima Valley came into the match looking for that first league win. But, momentum favored the Lady Vikings throughout the first game.

Roylance's jump serve became too much for Yakima to handle late in the game, forcing the Lady Yaks to take a timeout trailing 20-17, before Roylance dropped an ace to help push Big Bend out of reach.

Big Bend held on to take game one 30-24.

Trailing 1-0, Yakima Valley came out with a new fury. Both teams took shots at one another at the start of game two, trying to find a rally to break the score open. It was the Lady Yaks who found that rally.

Plooster picked the holes on Big Bend from the service line, scoring two straight aces and rallying Yakima to a 12-5 lead.

Big Bend's Darci Peterson plucked away from the service line for a comeback of her own, setting the Lady Vikings on a five-point swing, but Yakima Valley regained its momentum to tie the match at 1-1 with a 30-19 win in game two.

Big Bend put its back against the wall in game three with a 30-24 loss heading into game four, trailing 2-1.

"When we won that first game, we let down after that," Roylance said.

The Lady Vikings fought for the fourth game with that same pursuit they showed in game one, taking a life-saving game four win 30-18 and momentum heading into the final game.

With the decisive game five, the Lady Vikings built an 11-7 lead, but watched Yakima Valley close the gap to 14-13, before Big Bend closed it off with a 15-13 win.

Despite giving up two games to the Lady Yaks, De Hoog said the Lady Vikings are believers and believes the winning streak should continue. But for the players, the effects of winning are taking its toll.

"It is really bringing us up and it is nice to be up with a winning record for once," Roylance said.