Bulldog girls defeat NWC in league opener

Kylie Kackman (11) and Piper Cai go up to block a kill shot by Gonzaga's Charlotte Horn in the Thursday match at Colfax.

Colfax volleyball players took out Northwest Christian in three straight game Tuesday night at Colbert to start NE league play. The Bulldogs and NWC battled in a tight first game, but Colfax put the lid on in the last two.

Match score was 25-23 25-20 and 25-19.

Coach Sue Doering noted she changed the lineup before the Colbert trip, and the Bulldogs had to get into a new grove before the hits started to drop.

The Crusaders pegged leads of 12-9 and 17-14 before the first game locked up at 23-23.

Piper Cai hit a kill to get the serve, and Madi Cox went to the serve line and hit twice. She hit to a Crusader error on the first shot and then pegged an ace.

After that, Colfax pretty well set the pace in the last two games.

Colfax went to Colbert after sustaining a three-game loss to Gonzaga Prep in one of Coach Doering’s early season training tests against GSL talent.

Gonzaga blanked Colfax on the Bulldogs’ court 25-12 25-15 and 25-21.

“We finally figured out what they were doing in that last game, and actually took the lead, but couldn’t hold it.” Doering said.

“They were a very good team, and had some great serving,” she added.

Gonzaga senior Jackie Marr came to the line and hit a string of power serves for the last four prep points.

Colfax Saturday will play at the eight-team Okanogan tournament. The Bulldogs will play pool matchups against Omak at 9, Waterville/Mansfield at 11 and Meridian at 1.

Okanogan, Davenport, Toutle Lake and Kettle Falls are in the other bracket.

The tournament will conclude with pool finishers facing off according to how they finished in their bracket.

Colfax vs. Gonzaga: Carmen Gfeller 12 kills, 2 acres, 11 digs; Gretta Geier 1 kill, 1 dig, 23 blocks; Piper Cai 3 kills, 2 blocks, 11 digs; Kylie Kackman 18 assists, 9 digs, 1 kill, 2 blocks; Abbie Miller 11 kills, 8 digs; Rachel Brown 2 blocks; Madi Cox 3 digs, 1 ace; Kierstyn York 7 kills.

Colfax vs. Northwest Christian: Miller 14 digs, Gfeller 4 aces, 13 kills, 3 blocks, 12 digs; Cai 4 aces, 7 kills, 1 block, 10 digs, Brown 3 kills, 2 digs; York 3 blocks, 3 digs; Kackman 20 assist, 2 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs; Cox 6 digs; Taylre Sakamoto-Howell 1 ace.

Freshman Anni Cox serves one for Colfax against Gonzaga.