Lady Vikes Open Season Strong with 2-1 Start

The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikes opened their 2024 preseason with a thrilling five-set victory over Centralia this past week, shaking off the rust from a challenging 2023 season. Determined to start the new campaign on a high note, the Lady Vikes battled back after a rocky start to claim the win, with key contributions from Audrey Wellhausen, Camryn Birch, and Hailey Buehner, who combined for 30 kills.

In their first game of the weekend, the nerves were evident, and it showed in a tough opening set against the Centralia Trailblazers. Despite the early struggles, BBCC found their rhythm, improving their passing and hitting efficiency as the match wore on. Head Coach Alexa Moser noted the team's resilience and determination in her post-game comments:

"First official game of the season, you could tell there were a lot of nerves. The first set against Centralia was not pretty. But once we got that out of the way, the girls started to settle in and chip away, building success one point at a time. We went from hitting negative as a team and having a poor passing rating to hitting over .200 in the second set with just shy of a 2.0 passer rating. When you can pass in system and put balls away efficiently, the wins usually follow."

The match was a back-and-forth affair, ultimately going to five sets. However, as Coach Moser highlighted, it was the team's ability to adapt, fight through adversity, and gel in different line-ups that made the difference. "There was still a lot of back and forth, obviously going to five sets, but it's just getting used to playing with each other and different line-ups. All of these girls never let up and fought until the last point," Moser added.

This win marks a positive start for the Lady Vikes as they look to build momentum heading into the regular season. With early signs of progress and determination, BBCC is setting the tone for a successful year ahead.

Following an intense five-set victory in their season opener, the Lady Vikes of Big Bend Community College couldn't find their footing in game two, falling in straight sets to a strong South Puget Sound team. Despite competitive play throughout, BBCC was unable to match the energy and precision they showed in their first match, losing 25-21, 26-24, and 25-22.

Head Coach Alexa Moser reflected on the match, acknowledging the challenges her team faced. "We struggled in this match, nothing was really falling our way. We struggled passing, which then created chaos and running an offense out of system. It felt like we never really could get into a rhythm in this match. South Puget Sound is a very good serving and hitting team that put pressure on us from the start, and defense can only get you so far. In the end, we have to be able to find a way to score more efficiently."

Despite the tough loss, Moser emphasized the resilience of her team, noting that the sets were tightly contested, with the largest margin of defeat being just four points. "Even though we dropped 3 straight sets, they were all very competitive, with the biggest loss being 25-21, showing that these girls aren't ever going to let up."

Individually, Audrey Wellhausen continued to impress, putting together a solid performance with 6 kills on a .200 hitting efficiency and contributing 5 block assists. Her presence at the net was a bright spot for the Lady Vikes in a match where momentum was hard to come by.

After a tough loss earlier in the day, the BBCC Lady Vikes regrouped and finished strong with a 3-1 victory over Eastern Region opponent Blue Mountain Community College. The Lady Vikes were led by standout performances from Audrey Wellhausen and Hailey Buehner, who combined for 28 kills and were pivotal in securing the win.

Wellhausen had a stellar match, collecting 15 kills with a .270 hitting efficiency and adding 3 block assists. Buehner was equally impressive, contributing 13 kills on an efficient .318 hitting percentage. The two hitters powered BBCC's offense and helped the team shake off a slow start to take control of the match.

Head Coach Alexa Moser spoke about the team's resilience, especially after dropping the first set. "We started out slow. I think we carried over the loss against South Puget Sound into the start of this match, dropping the first set. But then we had some girls step up, and we took the match from there," Moser noted.

The Lady Vikes' defense played a crucial role in the win, with five different players recording double-digit digs. "Our defense was all over the place," Moser said. "To have five players with double-digit digs is huge; it creates more opportunities for us to score. And to be able to have two girls with double-digit kills shows how we were able to spread out our offense and be the ones putting the pressure on our opponents."

After shaking off early struggles, the Lady Vikes took control, winning three straight sets to close out the match. This win highlights their ability to bounce back and sets a positive tone as they continue their preseason.

Reflecting on the weekend, Moser emphasized the importance of ball control, which has been a central focus for the team since day one. "Since day one of this season, the biggest stressor has been ball control. Serve receive is something that we do every single day in practice because in order to run a successful offense, you first have to be able to pass," Moser said. "This weekend showed why I focus on it so much because our ball control players were definitely tested seeing different serving looks from very good teams."

The weekend highlighted the value of consistent passing and how it affects the team's ability to execute their offense. "When we had good ball control, we were able to run a quicker offense, and seeing different girls fill the role of being power hitters was notable for me as a coach," Moser added. The offensive performances of both veteran and fresh faces stood out, particularly the leadership from returner Audrey Wellhausen and the emergence of freshman Hailey Buehner.

"Audrey Wellhausen being a returner has filled the shoes of being a leader and demands the ball when she is in the front row, but to have freshman Hailey Buehner step up and also have that same mindset is exciting from an offensive standpoint," Moser commented.

Moser was also impressed with the team's defensive tenacity. "Defense was incredible. We had girls throwing their bodies on the floor, not letting balls drop, and just going after everything. That's the mindset you want to see."

The Lady Vikes demonstrated grit and adaptability, making adjustments and rising to challenges as they faced tough opponents. As the season progresses, the team will continue to build on their ball control and aggressive defensive play while refining their offense. With the combination of veteran leadership and emerging talent, the Lady Vikes are setting the stage for a competitive season ahead.

BBCC prepares for their next challenge as they host Centralia, South Puget Sound, Clark and Tacoma Community College this upcoming Wednesday and Thursday at the Devries Activity Center at 10:00 am and 5:30 PM. As always, keep up with the Vikings on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as through the NWACSports Network's livestream video platform, where available.