Lady Vikings look to bounce back this season

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College (BBCC) Lady Viking volleyball is ready for a fresh start in 2013 after a disappointing 4-27 season last year.

With new head coach Allison Baker and eight freshmen, BBCC is ready to compete in the East region of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

Baker was hired in April after former coach Natalie Coulston resigned after one season and moved out of state with her husband.

She graduated from the University of Idaho in May where she played volleyball and was named First-Team All Conference in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) the past three years.

On Aug. 30 and 31 the team played in the Highline Fall Classic Invitational where it lost to Tacoma, Olympic and Shoreline. However, the team was able to beat Lower Columbia (17-25, 26-24, 15-6).

Baker found it difficult to describe her first experience as a head coach, only that she had similar feelings as a player.

"It's not too much different than playing really," she said. "You want to win. It's just being competitive and trying to inspire the girls to really do their best."

Last weekend, BBCC traveled to Spokane Falls Community College for the Spokane Invitational where it was able to defeat Chemeketa (25-20, 25-19, 25-23). The team dropped matches to Mt. Hood, Columbia Basin, Bellevue and Wenatchee Valley. Despite the losses, Baker was encouraged with the play of her team and explained that once her team learns to play together they will have greater success.

"We have eight freshmen and only two sophomores so really a part of it is just learning to play with each other," she said. "That's kind of what we've been trying to figure out."

Team captains Katie Reeder and McKall Miller will need to help Baker and assistant coach Kendra Nielsen help this freshman-laden team.

"They're out there to lead and to help out the freshmen," Baker said. "We have a lot of good players. If we can get playing with confidence and get them learning the game a little bit better we can have a lot of good players."

Several regional championship and one NWAACC championship banner adorn the inside of BBCC's gym, most coming from the basketball programs and one from the baseball team. Baker will try to add a volleyball banner during her tenure but knows she can only go as far as her players take her.

"It starts with the girls," she said. "I'm glad we have a big group coming in because I know they can be a really good team and having those two sophomores they're good leaders. We've talked about how they have to be the change for Big Bend volleyball."

The Lady Vikings kick off league play when the travel to Ontario, Ore. to play Treasure Valley Community College Friday at 6 p.m.