WENATCHEE — The Big Bend Community College Vikings (5-8) gained a competitive road win over the Wenatchee Valley College Knights (3-17). Both teams were looking to come back from losses, and the Vikings got back in the win column 3-0. 

“It was very exciting,” said Vikings Head Coach Lindsey Linthicum. “Our girls just came in with a fire in their belly, ready to compete and ready to take on Wenatchee.” 

The first set showed BBCC’s strength as they had nine total kills. While Wenatchee Valley battled hard, the Vikings gained a 25-20 victory to start the match.

Going into the second set, the two teams set the tone for the remainder of the game as they both worked to claim victory. Both teams tied at 24, but BBCC claimed the win 26-24. 

The final set continued the competitiveness of set two as the Vikings and Knights dug deep. They both tied again late in the game and after trading the lead a few times, Big Bend gained the upper hand to win 29-27. 

“We started off really strong with some solid serves, but then also not just relying on our serving being solid. We were consistently and constantly prepared for the other team to bring something back,” said Linthicum. “It was great to see all around communication, great defense and being prepared offensively as well.” 

Molly Mangino led the Vikings with seven kills, six blocks and 10.5 points. Paige Cochrane added six aces, 11 assists and six digs, while Jah Chong anchored the defensive totals with 17 digs and Ahtyana Afu added a season-high 10 assists, according to BBCC Athletics.  

Heading into the matchup against Wenatchee, Linthicum said BBCC had a conversation about acknowledging that they always have the opportunity to bounce back. After two tough home losses leading into Friday, it was important to have the players remember their own worth. 

“We sometimes get stuck, and we get lost in this idea of comparison, and there’s a great saying that says, ‘comparison is the thief of joy’,” she said. “When we get like that as athletes, we can lose our recognition (that) we are a talented group, we are a very well-rounded group that can compete, that can win, that can be at the high level.” 

Linthicum said that other coaches throughout the Vikings facility also supplied great advice to the volleyball team and let the girls know that they are capable of finding success; they just have to keep fighting. The combination of these factors helped lift the Vikings back up to be ready for Wenatchee. 

This was shown on the court throughout Friday’s matchup as the girls had consistent tenacity across the board, said the coach. 

“It was a continuous cycle of just not allowing different circumstances (affect us) because there were times in the game where it got close, and it got a little scary, especially in the third set where it was 29-27 when we won,” she said. “That’s an intense game back and forth. They made a couple of mistakes, but they had a reset moment, and they grounded themselves.” 

Big Bend has a week break between their win over Wenatchee and their next game. Linthicum said during that time she wants to focus on having a couple harder days at practice where they will go drill after drill to exert energy and push themselves further. 

“Getting to that tired level, but also being able to then ask, ‘How do we bounce back through that,’” she said. “The next few days leading up to the games is refining our sets, refining our hits, refining our defense to then bring it all together for our Friday, Saturday games." 

The Vikings prepare for back-to-back home games this weekend as they face Spokane Friday at 6 p.m. and Treasure Valley Saturday at 2 p.m. 

BOX SCORE 

BBCC: 25-26-29: 3 

WVC: 20-24-27: 0

    Big Bend’s Ahtyana Afu steps up to serve during a game earlier this season.
  

    BBCC’s Paige Cochrane (12) sets up the ball for one of her teammates while Oaklee Woosley (13) keeps her eye on the play.