BBCC fall and winter sports schedules announced
Brooke Bowers (left) and Shania Bateman (right) look to be key players for a BBCC volleyball team that just missed the playoffs in 2013.
MOSES LAKE - Fall and winter sports schedules for Big Bend Community College athletics were announced Wednesday.
VOLLEYBALL
Big Bend volleyball begins the Steve Duncan era Aug. 25 with a scrimmage against Yakima Valley, with games beginning Aug. 29 at the Highline Fall Classic Invitational.
Duncan replaces Allison Baker, who led the Vikings to an 11-24 overall record in 2013 and barely missed the playoffs after losing out on a tiebreaker for the last berth with Yakima Valley in her lone season as head coach.
Duncan enters the head coaching ranks after previously being an assistant coach at Central Washington University. He also coached at Eisenhower and West Valley high schools and Yakima Community College.
While at Eisenhower and West Valley, the teams he helped coach reached the state tournament five times and won one state championship.
Big Bend begins NWAC East play when the team hosts CC Spokane Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Preston Wilks and the Lady Vikings women's basketball team begins their 2014-2015 campaign Dec. 5 at the Bellevue College Bulldog Classic Tourney.
Big Bend narrowly missed the postseason after missing out on the last playoff berth by one game.
Last year the Lady Vikings struggled with depth after two key sophomores, Shanelle Hemmert and Mckell Marlor, missed extensive time with torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
Depth shouldn't be an issue this season as Wilks added seven players, five of which received All-State honors in high school.
The Lady Vikings begin the season as road warriors, with only one game at home in December.
NWAC East play begins Jan. 10 against Yakima Valley.
Big Bend hosts NWAC champion Columbia Basin Feb. 18.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Legendary head coach Mark Poth and the Big Bend Runnin' Vikes will be in a precarious situation entering the 2014-2015 season.
The team lost all five starters from a year ago, including Baden NWAC Male Athlete of the Year and back-to-back East region MVP Brendan Westendorf.
Westendorf will be playing under head coach Cameron Dollar at Seattle University this season.
Last season, Big Bend finished second in the East region but failed to place at the NWAC tournament.
Big Bend opens its schedule Nov. 22 against the Columbia Basin All-Stars at home.
League play for the Runnin' Vikes begins Jan. 10 against Yakima Valley. Big Bend's annual Holiday Classic will be Dec. 29 through the 31.
Moses Lake's Josh Hirz signed a letter of intent to play for the Runnin' Vikes in May.