MOSES LAKE – The Big Bend Community College Vikings (2-16) played at home against Walla Walla Community College on Wednesday night where they ultimately fell 0-3. 

“I think we have a lot of potential, we get out there, we feel good, we make a couple mistakes, we just need to find our groove and stick to it and not let our mistakes dictate our game,” said Vikings freshman Trinity Dotson. 

The Vikings started off strong in the first set taking the lead and managed to keep a steady back and forth with the opponent. About halfway through the set, the Vikings pulled ahead of Walla Walla, gaining a four-point lead, but Walla Walla would rally and take the victory in a close 21-25 set.  

Walla Walla came out strong in the second set, gaining an early six-point lead over the Vikings. Big Bend closed the gap halfway through, but Walla Walla stayed ahead of the Vikings and won the set 19-25.  

In the third set, the Vikings held strong, but Walla Walla came out with a win and ended the game 0-3 for the Vikings. 

“Everything was going well, we ran the ball the way that we needed to run, our defense was on. We’ve just got to find the right tempo and following that setter on the other side and lining it correctly,” said Vikings Head Coach Lindsey Linthicum.  

Linthicum said the team has done a great job with having the right motivation and communication with each other when going onto the court each week. 

“Our setter Edyn Marlatt is starting to really run our hitters, and that is key in volleyball,” she said. “You can’t just stick to one main hitter, and so her realizing and seeing that we need to run our hitters more and split the port and run it that way is huge.” 

Dotson said the Vikings will need to work on coming back from mistakes made on the court and making any adjustments necessary during the game. Finding a drill at practice that can highlight this is something she said could greatly benefit the team. 

“That’ll help us kind of improve our mentality and finally realize, ‘I can’t control what I did just now, but what I can control is the next play,’” said Dotson. 

One thing that the Vikings have been pushing for the past few weeks is finding confidence on the court. Linthicum said that having this confidence is even more important now that they’ve entered the final stretch of the season.  

The most important thing for the Vikings moving forward is to home in on their desire to compete, said Linthicum. 

“Not accepting that just because we’re rebuilding that we’re just going to accept losing,” she said. “We can win.” 

The Vikings’ next game is on the road tonight at 6 p.m. where they will face off against Wenatchee Valley. 

BOX SCORE: 

BBCC: 21-19-11: 0
WWCC: 25-25-25: 3 

    Trinity Dotson from the Vikings prepares to make a serve against Walla Walla. Dotson said the team needs to work on coming back from mistakes during the game and figuring out how to adjust on the court.
  

    Vikings player Natania Vela sends the ball back over the net during Wednesday’s game. The Vikings stayed neck and neck with Walla Walla during the first set and caught up in the second after having a six-point deficit.
  

    Vikings player Edyn Marlatt gets ready to serve the ball during Wednesday’s game against Walla Walla. Vikings head coach Lindsey Linthicum said Marlatt has been a great voice for the team on the court throughout this season so far.
  

    Haedynn Plum from the Vikings prepares to spike the ball against Walla Walla.
  

    Vikings player Reagan Golladay bumps the ball up and over the net during Wednesday’s game against Walla Walla.