MOSES LAKE – As the Vikings return to the court for practices, there is a lot of optimism in the air for head coach, Lindsey Linthicum. As they prepare for their first scrimmage game today at Centralia, she said the team is starting to gel.  

“That's been really fun to see the girls kind of making those connections,” Linthicum said. “It's just fun to see their personalities coming out, and the girls are recognizing those personalities, and every once in a while, we get a good laugh out of each other.”  

Linthicum said one of her preseason captains, Jah Chong, is playing a key role in that. According to her, Chong often laughs to herself whenever she dives for the ball. To her peers, it looks like she might be hurt. 

“We all then go to her, like, ‘Okay, what hurts? What? Why are you crying?’ And then she starts laughing out loud. We’re like, ‘Girl, you got to start laughing out loud right away,’ so it's been fun,” Linthicum said.  

Linthicum used to be on the Vikings coaching staff as an assistant coach before taking a hiatus in 2021. Now that she has returned to the Vikings program this year as the head coach, she does feel there is some rust to shake off.  

“A lot has changed within four years, which is kind of crazy to think, and it's not even necessarily just drills,” she said. “It's reigniting those things like, ‘Okay, this is what this is and that’s what this is.’ So I would say we're rebooting the system, we're downloading again.” 

Last season, the Vikings lost their final four games and finished 11-18. However, with a new coach and overhauled roster, Linthicum said she is optimistic on what this team can accomplish.  

She said it will be important for them to remember to take the game one set at a time. They are working to remain mindful throughout the game and be adaptable to adjustments. Linthicum said she see’s a fire lit under her players that will grow the more her players see it themselves.  

“I think our strengths are going to outweigh the weaknesses as the season continues, we are a team that just does not let that ball drop. That's been really great to see how these girls go all out for the ball and will not cease to let it fall to the ground,” she said.  

When she held her first practice with the team last month, she introduced the team motto for this year.  

“For such a time as this.”  

In a sense, the Vikings volleyball program is hitting the restart button. Linthicum said any of her players could have chosen to go another path due to the effort it takes to help a program rebuild. However, they have decided to stick it out, she credits incoming freshman for also taking the leap of faith, too.  

“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,’ that 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,’” Linthicum said.  

Linthicum said the scrimmage at Centralia will beneficial for the player to get game reps before the regular season starts. She wishes they had more scrimmages to play in, she said. She feels it will be helpful to see where the team clicks the best, what rotations work and evaluating strengths versus weaknesses.  

The Vikings play their first regular season game at home against the Walla Walla Warriors on Aug. 26. The match will start at 10 a.m. 

“There's something special about these girls, but they have to want it,” Linthicum said. “For me personally, how do we bring this community back together? How do we how do we show joy? How do we become a memorable team? Because I think that's what's going to set us apart and take us a long way.”  

 
  

    Vikings volleyball Head Coach, Lindsey Linthicum, coaching her players and attendees of their volleyball camp, last month. Linthicum joined BBCC in May as the new head coach of the Vikings volleyball program.
  

    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.