MOSES LAKE – Last week, Vikings volleyball held an annual camp for local volleyball players ranging from third grade to the 12th grade. This year's camp was led by new head coach Lindsey Linthicum, who thought starting with tradition was a great way to kickstart a new era.  

“I knew that there was a camp that the previous coach and other previous coaches had always put on (camps) at the end of July. So, I just figured, ‘You know what? Let's just keep the tradition rolling.’ That's something that I'm big on. I came here 15 years ago to play and fell in love with this place,” Linthicum said.  

The camps ran Tuesday through Thursday, with Vikings volleyball players arriving early in the morning, Linthicum said. Throughout the day, the age groups would increase. They started with third through fifth graders, then the middle schoolers and finally wrapping up with the high school group.  

According to Linthicum, she wanted the kids to become familiar with the basics of volleyball, even if they already had prior experience. Each day, they would work on different skills, so by the third and final day, they could play exhibition games.  

“I think that helps my girls get ready and get started right, because then they get that refresher of the basics, that's why I want them to do a lot of the teaching, and I want them to be involved in (the camp), because that's actually kick-starting their brain,” Linthicum said. 

Linthicum said she hopes to build on the camp's success this year by allotting more time for players to learn and practice. Linthicum and the Vikings players were leading with enthusiasm and offering encouragement to the kids. She hopes they left the camps knowing what they’re capable of, she said. She believes that’s what she saw by the end of the week.  

“You can start to see their joy come out on the floor when that ball gets over the net, and they were the ones that did it, and I think that's why I love volleyball so much, just seeing that spark within somebody get ignited,” Linthicum said.  

According to Linthicum, the camp also served as the first introduction between her and the Vikings players. When she was hired in May, the roster consisted of only four players. She said from May through early July, she worked hard to recruit seven additional players to reach a total of 11.  

In addition to the camp, they also had their first practice on Friday morning. She could tell the players were excited to be there, Linthicum said. They discussed their goals for the upcoming season as a team. Linthicum also established a team motto – for such a time as this. 

Linthicum said she acknowledges what it means for the players to show up and play for Big Bend Community College. Given all the recent changes, she said the players did not have to stick around or be expected to help reshape the volleyball program.  

“For these girls, even the returners and even the freshmen that had signed on before, for them to say, ‘I want to stay and be a part of this,’ speaks volumes to me. Already, they're showing that commitment of, ‘Let's make something of this program, and let's get big bend on the map,’” she said.  

Linthicum is originally from Nampa, Idaho. She came to play for the Vikings in 2012 and came back as an assistant coach from 2017 to 2020. Even after taking a break for four years, she originally turned down the head coaching position when it was first offered in April. However, she thought about a key factor that made her fall in love with BBCC when she was a player – the family she found.  

“That was something that I was greatly appreciative of when I came and played here 15 years ago was it felt like a family,” Linthicum said. “The community base in this area is huge, and I think that's what makes Moses Lake so special, so for me as a coach now coming into this, it's like creating this family dynamic.” 

When BBCC Athletic Director Benjamin Griffin called Linthicum a second time, she told him to give her 48 hours. She and her husband, Aaron, talked it over and made many prayers, she said. Ultimately, she came back to their team motto and decided she wanted to take the job.  

“For such a time as this,” she said. “I'm stepping back into coaching, and I'm excited. There's a lot of unknowns because we're reshaping a program, or we're redoing some things, but man, sometimes it's great to go into the unknown and see what's going to happen within it.” 

    A volleyball player practices a bump hit during the Vikings volleyball camp. BBCC held a camp for local volleyball players from third grade to 12th to get more introduced to the Vikings program.
  

    An attendee practices passing at the Vikings volleyball camp. The camp ran from Tuesday through Thursday where players got to learn in depth skills and build confidence as players.
  

    A Vikings volleyball player practices a bump pass with another player during the Vikings volleyball camp. According to Head Coach, Lindsey Linthicum, when she first arrived in May, the roster only had four players but built it up to 11 by July.
  

    Vikings volleyball Head Coach, Lindsey Linthicum, participates in exhibition games with attendees at the volleyball camp. Linthicum said she is hoping to bring a family culture to the Vikings volleyball program.