Big Bend CC takes consolation title

AUBURN - After a tough start to the Northwest Athletic

Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) campaign the Big Bend

Community College Lady Vikings volleyball team may have found its

rhythm on Friday and Saturday.

Big Bend finished a 4-2 trip to Green River CC and the NWAACC

Crossover Tournament held over the two days to capture the

consolation championship.

AUBURN - After a tough start to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) campaign the Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings volleyball team may have found its rhythm on Friday and Saturday.

Big Bend finished a 4-2 trip to Green River CC and the NWAACC Crossover Tournament held over the two days to capture the consolation championship.

The four wins means Big Bend has already doubled last year's win total - four - with two months left to play.

"Overall, we had a solid weekend and had a lot of growth mentally and emotionally this weekend," Big Bend head coach Michael De Hoog said. "We had a slow start on both of our morning matches each day, but we improved tremendously as a unit throughout each day. I'm very proud of each girls contribution whether it was on the floor or on the bench."

In Friday's pool play, BBCC (8-10 overall) fell to Club Gator (comprised of Green River alums) 2-0 (25-18, 25-16) before they came back to defeat Centralia CC 2-0 (25-21, 25-17) and Everett CC 2-0 (25-7, 25-19).

Erica Hanson had 17 kills over the course of the three matches while Chelsea Treischel finished with 49 assists.

Becky Moudree had a standout performance at the net against Centralia, finishing with five solo blocks and Hanson hit .455 in the win over Everett.

On Saturday the Lady Vikings headed into tournament play and dropped their opener 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22) to Shoreline CC.

Kendra Bailey and Hanson finished with 10 kills apiece while Treischel directed offensive traffic with 34 assists. Moudree added six blocks and 11 digs and Amy Teuscher finished with nine kills and 10 digs.

From there Big Bend turned on the winning time and swept past Centralia CC 2-0 (25-18, 25-21) and Umpqua CC 2-0 (25-11, 25-23) to complete their appearance at the tournament.

Moudree led the squad with seven kills in each match.

Rylie Borstelman had four aces against Umpqua CC.

Hanson and Treischel were selected to the All-Tournament Team.

"Erika and Chelsea had a great weekend for us," De Hoog said. "It was very steady and solid play every single match we played."

In the long run, the team's success came hand-in-hand with improved passing and serve reception.

"I always tell the team that we focus on defense and serve receive, the offense will come," De Hoog said. "If you're playing good defense and can pass well, the offense usually falls right into place."

Tomorrow night the Lady Vikings host Blue Mountain CC at 6 p.m. at the Peter DeVries Activity Center.

Blue Mountain (18-2) has the top record in NWAACC East Division.