MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings recently concluded their regular season with a gritty 3-2 win at home over Wenatchee Valley College. It was an exciting way to close the 2026 season, Head Coach Lindsey Linthicum said.  

"A thriller for sure," she said. "I'm super proud of the girls to finalize and finish and complete the season the way that they did." 

It was a battle from the beginning, with each set won by narrow margins. The Vikings took the first set 25-19, before Wenatchee Valley rebounded in the second to squeeze out a 25-23 set win. This trend continued as the two teams traded the next two sets to force a fifth to decide the game. Though the Knights fought tooth and nail, it was the Lady Vikings earning the game win with a 15-11 set win.  

According to BBCC Athletics, Oaklee Woosley and Arianna Williams led the attack with 11 kills apiece. Woosley added 5 total blocks and a team-high 15 points, while Williams contributed 4 total blocks and 14 points.  

Kaylee Lindley added 10 kills, 4 total blocks and a season-high 12 points, giving Big Bend another productive option at the net. Haedynn Plum recorded 9 kills, 16 digs and one service ace.  

Jah Chong continued to be reliable defensively as she hustled for a team-high 22 digs and added six assists. Paige Cochrane supplied five of Big Bend's nine aces and added 15 assists and eight digs. Ahtyana Afu finished with 17 assists, and Jaeda Gonzalez served two aces, a season first. 

Trusting and supporting one another proved more important than relying on individual talent, Linthicum said. 

"Just that they had to realize they all wanted the win, but they wanted it in a way that it made them scared to play, and so it just boiled down that last timeout that I called," she said. "It was literally leaning into each other and trusting each other. That front row, you are protecting your back row. Back row, you're protecting your front row. If there's a block, it was the bench cheering on everybody. It was a trust situation, and those girls went out after that timeout, and it was like there was a fire that lit under them, and there was no stopping them." 

Though they just missed out on the Northwest Atheltic Conference regional tournament, Linthicum felt the Lady Vikings program showed a lot of growth in her second season as head coach.  

From year one to year two, the team grew in resilience and confidence. Though young and undersized, they fought back in close sets and maintained high energy and joy. 

"They understand the torch they need to carry," said the coach. "They came in every single day wanting to fight, wanting to battle (and) knew that games we played were going to be battles." 

Linthicum noted that sometimes younger teams in the NWAC can be more timid going up against more seasoned groups, but this team decided to dismiss that mindset.  

"These girls said no way and let's go and battle," she said. "I think that proved to how we finished the season out. So, night and day difference, and it was just girls believing in what the standards and the procedures of what we're wanting for this program, what we're wanting to be in this community." 

Throughout the season, the talent was there but lumps and obstacles could make it hard to see from the teams perspective, Linthicum said. As the season unfolded, she worked hard to encourage her players to find a positive mindset when going got tough – which she feels they began excelling at by the latter stages of the season.  

"That was something that I really wanted to push on the girls," she said. "You will have more confidence if you see the joy in the game, even in the struggle, because you're going to see your triumphs and you're going to see your excelling areas, even in the hardships." 

With the conclusion of the season, also comes the end of their sophomore's journey in the program. Jaeda Gonzalez, Haedynn Plum, Jah Chong, Oaklee Woosley and Savannah Golovanov have played their last volleyball game as a Viking.  

The first four having been at BBCC from the start of Linthicum's tenure as head coach. All of which have played major roles in helping to rebuild the program, said the coach.  

"Those girls saw something within the Big Bend program, and they wanted to keep establishing it," she said. "That's the tough part when you are at a JUCO. I think in any program, when you commit to something, you have to fully commit. That was something that those four young women did day in and day out. They fully committed to anything and everything, and that's what really brought those freshmen along in that as well because they saw their commitment, and so it helped them dive in deeper too." 

With the freshman class seemingly guided by a strong sophomore class, Linthicum feels confident this team is poised to take another step next season.  

"I'm a very optimistic person," said the coach. "I'm always driven by the the aspect of anybody can be beaten, and so it'll just boil down to them coming in for spring and them coming in for the next season and saying like, 'Hey, are we ready? Are we going into this? Are we are we are we diving in head first?'" 

BOX SCORE: 

WVC: 19-25-19-25-11: 2 

BBCC: 25-23-25-20-15: 3

    Soap Lake local Liana Sushik (4) bumps the ball into the air against Blue Mountain earlier this season.
  

    The Big Bend Community College Vikings bench cheers on their teammates against Blue Mountain earlier this season.
  

    Jah Chong (8) intercepts an incoming serve from Blue Mountain earlier this season.