BBCC falls in NWAC opener

MOSES LAKE - Despite being down two sets, Big Bend volleyball would not quit.

The Vikings staged a furious rally in the deciding third set and pushed Spokane into the 30s.

However, Big Bend (0-1, 6-5) was unable to steal that final set to prolong the match and the Vikings lost their NWAC opener to Spokane in three sets 18-25, 20-25, 35-37.

Big Bend had met Spokane (1-0, 11-6) 12 days earlier at the Spokane Falls CC Invitational and finished with a similar result.

"Spokane's a very good team," head coach Steve Duncan said. "They're clean. They stay in system a lot, they're able to get a lot of their options as far as offensively up most of the time and that keeps defenses like our's on their toes having to move a lot and so if we're able to keep them out of system, get better swings on the ball next time we play them I think we're going to be more successful."

The Sasquatch were able to control the first set and use an early 4-0 run to stretch out to a 7-3 lead.

From there, Spokane used another 5-0 run to jump out to a 14-7 lead over the Vikings and eventually would go on to take the set, 25-18.

Sophomore Korrie Stephenson led Spokane with a team-high 10 kills for the match.

Big Bend would be much more competitive in the second set and had multiple leads before Spokane was able to once again pull away and win 25-20.

The third set began with a scare for the Vikings. With the score tied 1-1, sophomore libero Rebecca Egan dove to keep the ball in play, but in doing so hit her head on the hardwood floor.

The match was stopped due to some blood on the floor, but Egan was able to receive some quick treatment in the trainer's room and return to the match.

"She's completely fine," Duncan said. "It's just a little gash. She came back in and she played very well so she'll be just fine."

Big Bend stayed close with Spokane throughout the final set and had a chance to force a fourth set - nursing a 24-23 lead - but things got a little strange.

After Spokane tied the score at 24-24, there was 12 ties and 12 lead changes from that point forward.

The Sasquatch were finally able to score two points in a row and take the set, 37-35.

"I think after we played them in Spokane they were thinking about us a little bit, but now they're really considering us and that's something good for the rest of the league to see too," Duncan said. "That we have that fight in us. We have that competitiveness. That we aren't just going to roll over and take games against us.

"We're going to stay in there and we're going to fight and we're going to battle it out until 37 points if it need be. I think that's the biggest statement that we were able to make tonight."

Sophomore Shania Bateman recorded a match-high 12 kills while fellow sophomore Payton Clark added 9.

Freshman setter McKenzi Lott led all players with 32 assists.

Sophomore libero Kennedy Bell led Big Bend with 17 digs.