Colfax players take aim at third straight state title

Taylor Garcia (6) and Carmen Gfeller put up a block against Reardan in the first round of the SE-NE regional at Colfax Nov. 4.

Colfax volleyball players will target a third straight state title run when they return to Yakima's SunDome Friday for the start of the 16 team state 2B finals.

The Bulldogs will start Friday at 9 a.m. against Wahkiakum, the team they defeated in the last round of their state win last year.

Colfax for the previous two years has rolled through the state competition with 12-game express runs, which means a sweep against each of the four foes through the title runs.

Colfax last year booked their 14th state title win.

“I think it could be a pretty even field,” coach Sue Doering commented. “I know people will be looking for us.”

The Colfax-Wahkiakum opener Friday at the SunDome will be opposite the Kittitas-Napavine match in the opening round. Winners will advance to the quarter-final round at 5 p.m.

Last Wednesday, Colfax defeated Reardan in the first round of the SE-NE regional on the home court and then swept Wilbur/Creston and Sunnyside Prep Saturday in the final two rounds of the regional at Asotin.

The two match sweeps in the regional round followed two the previous week in the NE playoff round and an undefeated run in league competition.

Colfax started the regional last Wednesday on the home court with the three-game win over Reardan, the number-two team in the league standings which was derailed by Wilbur/Creston in last week's league tournament. The Bulldogs topped Reardan 25-19 22-25 25-16 and 25-22. Reardan's win in the second set turned out to be the lone setback for the Bulldogs in the regional run.

Carmen Gfeller rapped 23 kills against the Indians Wednesday. Gfeller also ran a string of serves to build a 10-point lead over the Indians in the last game. Katelyn Scholz and Ashtyn Aune each booked 15 assists and 15 digs.

Wilbur/Creston defeated Dayton in the other round at Colfax and faced the Bulldogs Saturday in the semi-final round when the SE-NE moved to Asotin.

Colfax Saturday swept the Wildcats, who dealt Colfax their lone game loss last week at St. George's, 25-15 25-21 and 25-18 to move into a showdown with Tri Cities Prep for the top NE-SE slot.

Colfax then swept Tri-Cities Prep 25-12 25-14 and 25-16 in the championship round. The Jaguars, who had the top SE seed after Walla Walla Valley Academy stepped aside because they can't compete on Saturdays, defeated Northwest Christian in the semis to advance to the finals.

Coach Doering said strong serving and blocks were a big part of the win over the Wildcats in the semi match.

Gfeller ran a string of five serve points with three aces to advance Colfax to a 13-6 lead in the first game, and Abbie Miller had a run of five serve points to help close the second game. Colfax staked a lead in the first game and just kept it.

Tri Cities opened with a slower pace, and Colfax backed off in the power game. Morgan Lord served four points to start the last game, but the Jags came back for an 8-7 lead. Olivia Mellor responded with a run of five points to take control, and Scholz capped the campaign with three straight.

Stats vs. Wilbur/Creston: Ashtyn Aune 11-12 serving with 4 aces, 4 digs, 14 assists; 15 digs; Abbie Miller, 9-10 serving, 2 kills, 9 digs; Katelyn Scholz 14-15 serving with 3 aces, 1 dig, 14 assists; Morgan Lord 11-11 serving, 15 digs; Carmen Gfeller 13-15 serving with 6 aces, 16 kills, 3 blocks, 3 digs; Olivia Mellor 6-6 serving, 10 kills, 1 block, 12 digs; Sidney Sheer 1-2 serving; Kylie Gronning 2-2 serving; Piper Cai 2 kills, 1 block, 1 dig, Taylor Garcia 5 kills, 3 blocks.

Stats vs Tri-Cities Prep: Aune 8-8 serving, 14 assists, 10 digs; Scholz 13-15 serving, 1 kill, 9 assists, 3 digs; Lord 12-13 serving, 13 digs; Miller 10-10 serving with an ace, 4 kills, 1 block, 4 digs; Gfeller 10-11 serving with 4 aces, 10 kills, 1 block, 3 digs; Mellor 15-15 serving with 2 aces, 11 kills, 12 digs; Sheer 2-3 serving, 1 block; Gronning 3 digs; Kylie Kackman, 3 assists; Cai 5 kills, 1 block, 3 digs; Garcia 1 kill, 1 block, 1 dig.