Veni, Vidi, Vici … Moser Poised for 1st Season
Big Bend Community College's new Head Women's Volleyball Coach Alexa Moser is no stranger to the Lady Viking sidelines. As a former collegiate player in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) at East Region foe Walla Walla Community College, in addition to her time spent last season as an assistant for the Lady Vikings, Moser has experienced her fair share of Lady Viking Volleyball. However, Tuesday's opener for the Lady Vikings presents a new challenge for Moser…her first game as a collegiate head coach. But, if her borrowed motivation holds true, her ladies will use the famous Julius Caesar mantra 'Veni, Vidi, Vici' to bring new life to the program.
"Last season taught me how to be a flexible coach by learning to maximize what you have instead of focusing on what you don't have," stated Moser, ahead of her head coaching debut. "… to play to your strengths as a team and as individuals instead of trying to create something that you're not; balancing practices and lifting programs to keep bodies at the healthiest point so that players feel their best on game days; building relationships with the players as a support staff member last year, instilling confidence in the ladies and teaching them about more than just volleyball."
The 2023 season will be much about implementing these learning moments into Moser's own style, which centers more on the person than the player. "As a first-year head coach, establishing a positive, winning culture is one of my biggest goals. This culture will be built on creating a family … a home away from home for these ladies. I want parents to look at Big Bend and think, 'This is where I want to send my daughter.'
Moser went on to say, "I want our ladies to have an attitude of gratitude, to serve others, always putting the team first, doing what is right even when it's hard, and doing everything with a purpose. Not only do I want to maximize the volleyball potential in every single one of these ladies, I want them to be successful in the classroom, so that it will set them up to succeed in life beyond volleyball."
Moser's first team will feature nine freshmen, who are eager to learn from their young coach, as well as a new slate of experienced assistant coaches. The nine freshmen will be guided on the court by two seasoned returners. Sophomore Laura Forsgren looks to build on her impact 2022 season. In 2022, Forsgren immediately stepped into a leadership role for the team as their top setter. This season, she will expand that leadership role into the libero position for the team, as Moser speaks volumes of Forsgren "encompassing everything Lady Viking volleyball stands for." Sophomore Grace Fedie is the lone additional returner, a team starter as a freshmen and a go-to player for the squad. "Grace has grown a lot in the off season," said Moser, "and I'm excited to see her flourish in a major role as a sophomore for us this season."
Despite the excitement that a new staff and young team will bring to the court, the Lady Vikings' early success will be predicated upon how quickly they can adjust to the college game. "The tempo is so much faster," stated Moser. "From a defensive perspective, our blockers need to track the ball at the net so we can get as many touches on the block as possible. From an offensive perspective, ball control … getting good first touches … being able to control our side of the court and run a fast and explosive offense by speeding up our touches on the ball is crucial to winning."
The East Region will, once again, bring with it a gauntlet slate of games for the Lady Vikings. Columbia Basin College won the 2022 East Region Championship, only to fall in close sets to eventual NWAC champion Linn-Benton Community College. In their final year in the NWAC, North Idaho College looks to build on their second-place East Region finish in 2022; additionally, they placed 4th in the NWAC tournament. And no one will overlook Yakima Valley College, as well as Treasure Valley Community College, as both teams feature coaching staffs that have led their respective programs from the bottom of the East Region to regular top-four East Region finishes.
"These ladies are bought into our program values and want to create success for Big Bend Volleyball right away," stated Moser. If the 2023 Lady Vikings Volleyball season goes anything like the battles Caesar fought, the Lady Vikings will truly be able to say, "Veni, Vidi, Vici" … "I came, I saw, I conquered (won)!"
The Big Bend Community College Lady Vikings' Volleyball Team opens their season Tuesday, August 29th, 2023 at Linn-Benton Community College.