Vikings split matches against Chukars, T-Wolves

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend showed flashes of head coach Steve Duncan's vision for the team.

Against Treasure Valley, the Vikings made crisp passes and three players had double digit kills.

"Yesterday we were just clean," Duncan said. "We were very, very clean. We kept the ball going a lot and we kind of stuck to our gameplan with putting pressure on them and making them get out of system and then they weren't able to respond very well."

Big Bend (2-3, 12-10) would go on to beat the Chukars in four games 25-12, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22.

Although the team was swept by Blue Mountain (21-25, 17-25, 23-25), the Vikings pushed the No. 1 ranked Timberwolves for spurts throughout the match.

Big Bend held leads in the first and third games before Blue Mountain(4-0, 30-1) was able to rally and pull ahead.

"That first one and that third one we did some good things, we did some great things," Duncan said. "I was happy with how we played that first and third set just because we were able to compete with them.

That third one we pushed them to the very final last two points and so being able to do that with the No. 1 ranked team in the entire NWAC, that really says something good about us and that we're on the right track to do the good things that we want to be able to do with this season."

Big Bend did have difficulty attacking the stout Blue Mountain defense. The Vikings' hit percentage was just .086 in comparison to the Timberwolves' .171.

But against a team like Blue Mountain points are always going to come at a premium.

"Even when they are out of system they have options that they can go to that can still put pressure on us, on our defense to make good plays," Duncan said. "So that's one of the difficult things about keeping this team out of system. We may get a great swing on the ball, but they stick one arm out and make a miraculous play."

Whitney Southam recorded a team-high 10 kills against Blue Mountain.

Nichole Dally led Big Bend with 24 assists and Kennedy Bell notched 23 digs.

Shania Bateman led the offensive attack against Treasure Valley with 15 kills. Brooke Bowers and Payton Clark added 10 and 11 kills, respectively.

Big Bend - currently sitting in sixth place - will travel to face Wenatchee Valley Wednesday. The Knights are tied for third with Walla Walla and Spokane at 3-2 in the NWAC East.

"It's going to be huge and really it's not just that game," Duncan said. "It's CBC after that, it's Spokane after that. Every game in this region is going to be a huge game."

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