Bulldogs keep state V-net trophy

Colfax volleyball players record a championship picture after rolling past Wahkiakum for their fourth straight three-game win. Seniors Kori Goodwin, Amara Huber and Kindra Kneale are in front with Coach Sue Doering. In back, from the left, were Ashtyn Aune, Taylor Garcia, Scout Cai, Morgan Lord, Katelyn Scholz, Carmen Gfeller, Sidney Sheer, Olivia Mellor, Kylie Gronning, and assistant coaches Casey Zander and Maggee Cochran. Assistant coach Shawna Kneale, also part the crew, was part of the celebration too.

Colfax volleyball players again took the express route Friday and Saturday when they defended their state title in a 12-game run in Yakima’s SunDome. The Bulldogs finished with a three-game win over Wahkiakum in Saturday night’s championship game.

Wahkiakum landed in the title game after stopping La Conner, a former finalist foe of the Bulldogs, in the semi-final round.

Most of the Bulldog matches started with close rounds in the opening games, but the Bulldogs’ serving and digging and passing skills took the edge off the opposition.

Friday in the opening round, the first Colfax foe, Life Christian Academy of University Place, actually had the most success when they came within four points in the middle game, 21-25.

In the three matches after the opener, none of the foes scored over 20 beans while the Bulldogs made a nine game run all the way to the title.

This year’s straight -12 run matched the title run last year when the Bulldogs won their first trophy since 2009. The 2013 win ended a three-year reign by Reardan’s team at the top of the 2B ranks.

This year’s win marked the 13th overall net title for the Bulldogs and the 12th for Coach Sue Doering. The Bulldogs have four titles in the 2B division and nine in the 1A division.

Saturday night in the championship game against Wahkiakum, Colfax kept up their pattern of getting stronger as the match advanced. The title battle started with some close net duels right at the top, but the Colfax back court game took control.

“They put a few serves down against us at the start, but we changed the defense a little bit and really covered the court,” Coach Sue Doering commented.

The Mules had a pre-game setback when senior outside hitter Tori Wegdahl was hurt in a fall in the bleachers before the match.

Score to the title match was 25-18 25-15 and 25-14. The finale lasted 1:15 minutes with Colfax staking a 19-11 lead in the last game before the west side club staged a final rally.

In the first game, the Mules kept pace at 14-14, but Kindra Kneale led a breakout with a run of four. She had a run of six in the third game.

Senior Kori Goodwin capped the second game win with two straight aces. They hit after the Mules put up a long rally and scored point 15.

“I think that really broke their spirit right there,” Doering noted.

Katelyn Scholz, who had a big role coming off the bench to serve, hit a run of four after Kneale’s strong start to advance the Colfax lead to 13-4

Wahkiakum advanced to the 2B title game after taking out La Conner in a close three-game semi battle. They were going after their first title in the 2B division.

In the semifinal round, Colfax defeated Mossyrock 25-12, 25-19, 25-18.

The Viking booked a slow start against the Bulldogs in the first game , but came to life in the second game with Jaime Carlson at the serve line. The Vikes closed it to 20-18, but Colfax closed it out with Scout hitting three kills and Olivia Mellor picking up one.

Amara Huber hit nine kills against the Vikings, and Carnen Gfeller and Mellor each hit eight.

Goodwin, who averaged 33 assists over the four matches, booked 37 against the Vikings.

Viking senior Calli Hensch racked up more than a dozen kills aginst the Colfax defense.

In their first match Friday against Life Christian Assembly Colfax prevailed 25-13 25-21 25-20. They were the only foe to get past the teens in scoring against Colfax for the duration of the tourney.

Life Christian actually staked an 11-9 lead over the Bulldogs , but Goodwin put up a nine point run to take control

Colfax advanced Friday on a solid three game win over Adna, 25-10 25-12 and 25-15. Adna faced Colfax after a three game win over Warden in their first match. Goodwin served the first seven points for Colfax in the third game with two aces in the string.

Tournament stats: Kori Goodwin 133 assists, 17 digs 49-58 serving with 11 aces; Olivia Mellor, 26 kills, 1 block, 26 digs 52-55 serving with 4 aces. Kindra Kneale 21 kills, 11 blocks, 6 digs, 54-59 serving with 9 aces; Katelyn Scholz, 9 digs, 50-56 serving with 3 aces; Carmen Gfeller 32 kills, 10 blocks; Amara Huber 40 kills, 6 blocks, 44 digs, 37-38 serving with 1 ace, Scout Cai, 28 kills, 10 blocks, 32 digs, 17-28 serving with 4 aces, Morgan Lord, 15 digs.