Lady Vikings downed in three-game battle

MOSES LAKE - Scores can be quite deceiving.

Nowhere was this more evident than in last night's Northwest

Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) clash between

the improving Big Bend Lady Vikings volleyball team and the

visiting Blue Mountain Community College Timberwolves, leaders of

the East Division.

MOSES LAKE - Scores can be quite deceiving.

Nowhere was this more evident than in last night's Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) clash between the improving Big Bend Lady Vikings volleyball team and the visiting Blue Mountain Community College Timberwolves, leaders of the East Division.

When all was said and done at the Peter DeVries Activity Center, the T-Wolves would leave Moses Lake 3-0 winners (25-22, 25-16, 31-29, but not before the Lady Vikings made their guests work for every point they earned.

Big Bend (8-11, 0-3) fell down 2-0 in games after losing a 19-13 lead in game one and then coming out flat in game two, but managed to engage in a classic third and final game before falling, 31-29.

"We lost game three but it was a fun, fun battle against a well-coached team," Big Bend head coach Michael De Hoog said. "We had three chances to win that game and let it slip away. They also had three chances at match point and we fought back and didn't give in."

In many statistical areas it was the Lady Vikings that did a number on Blue Mountain (19-2, 3-0), including team hitting (.220 to .091), blocks (eight solo and 11 assisted to two solo and six assisted), and digs (53 to 34).

Yet the T-Wolves still escaped with the win.

"It didn't show on the stats, but we were out of system way too much because of our passing and we just couldn't attack the way we wanted to," De Hoog said. "We put ourselves in a hole at the beginning of the second game, but I was very proud of how we regained some composure and chipped away at their lead. You can't get down by too much against this BMCC squad because they're just too good and they won't make many mistakes."

The T-Wolves, the NWAACC's No. 1 team, did win the edge in the serving department with nine aces and only four errors while many other serves were passed off center by Big Bend players that didn't allow the Lady Vikings to get the desired third ball to select hitters.

"I know my team sounded and looked focused before they took the court, but it's hard to know exactly what's going through their minds," De Hoog said. "Our serve receive was non-existent at the start and we simply weren't vocal and we weren't moving well on the floor. It's amazing how your mouth is connected to your feet in this sport. When you're not vocal, movement stops."

Big Bend led 19-13 in the first game but then Blue Mountain took advantage of some late passing errors by their hosts and asserted itself in the middle of the block.

"I think our biggest issue was playing a little bit on the safe side towards the end of the game," De Hoog said. "I think we played a little bit not to lose for just enough time at the end of that set for Blue Mountain to get a little bit of momentum and that cost us. Plain and simple, we have to close out that game and we do it by raising the pressure on our opponents."

Big Bend's offense was led by the 11 kills each of Amy Teuscher and Erika Hanson while Becky Moudree contributed 10 kills while hitting .474.

Setter Chelsea Treischel distributed 35 assists while defensively Teuscher had 12 digs and Treischel contributed eight digs.

Moudree finished with three solo blocks and three block assists.

"Amy and Erika really stepped up big tonight and put up good numbers," De Hoog said. "Becky was tough at the net tonight blocking wise and I think frustrated their hitters a bit."

Blue Mountain's Rebecca Haight led all players with 13 kills.

"We started strong and the thing I am most proud of these girls for is they were earning points and not relying on BMCC to make errors," De Hoog said. "That tells me we're doing a lot of things right. Unfortunately we're 0-3 in conference right now, but we could just as easily be 3-0."