VALE — After pushing league-leading Pendleton to five sets on Oct. 5 in the Baker gym, the Bulldog volleyball team couldn’t take that momentum on the road to Vale.

Baker went down in three sets to the Vikings on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 25-10, 25-10, 25-16.

The Bulldogs led 3-2 in the first set and tied it at 4, but the Vikings took control with a 12-0 run fueled by multiple ace serves by Jojo Cleaver.

Vale dominated the second set, winning four of the first five points.

Baker had multiple serving and hitting errors, and the Bulldogs struggled at times with Vale serves.

“We just made too many simple mistakes,” Baker coach Ali Abrego said. “Couldn’t find a rhythm.”

The Vikings appeared poised to breeze to the sweep, leading 9-2 in the third set and prompting Abrego to call timeout.

The Bulldogs responded with a 9-2 run, including two ace serves by Lexi Rupel, to lead 15-14.

It was a brief advantage, though, as the Vikings scored seven straight points to regain control.

Abrego said Lilly Wilson’s play in the back row was a highlight.

“She played incredible defense and was a very positive leader on the floor,” Abrego said of the junior libero.

Baker, which lost its third straight, dropped to 3-12 overall. The Bulldogs, 1-3 in the Greater Oregon League, can still finish in a tie for second if they beat La Grande and Ontario, and Pendleton beats La Grande.

Baker plays host to La Grande on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs travel to North Powder on Friday, Oct. 13 to play the Badgers in a nonleague match at 6:30 p.m., then return to the Baker gym for the regular season and GOL finale against Ontario on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.

Baker swept Ontario on Sept. 28.

On Tuesday at Vale, Baker won the JV match, 25-16, 25-20, and the JV2 match, 25-10, 25-3.