Bulldog netters stop Grizzlies, host Kettle to start league run

Colfax volleyball players will open their league run Saturday with the Kettle Falls team visiting for homecoming weekend. The K club will be the first of seven straight league matchups with Springdale also making a visit on Tuesday.

Colfax, now 6-5 overall, will host Kettle Saturday after pegging a three-game non-league win over Newport in the home court. Line score for the Saturday win was 25-9 25-18 and 25-21.

The Bulldogs booked a runaway win in the first game and then battled the Grizzlies over the next two games.

“We’re just playing a lot better,” Coach Sue Doering said. She noted Taylor Larsen had a strong hitting game with 13 kills against Newport.

Setter Amelie Bruya put up 22 assists with many of the feeds going to Larsen in the middle.

The first game charges started with Lauren Moore serving a 4-0 lead. Bruya then followed with a 10-point serving run and the Bulldogs had a 15-3 margin with the match just getting underway.

Newport posted leads early in the next two games. They were up 6-10 in game two before Sidney Huber served a run and the score locked at 10-10.

In the third game, Coach Doering moved some of her reserve players into action. Colfax again trailed early, but came back. Doering tapped Bailey Mackleit off the bench and she hit 2 for 2 to seal the 25-21 game win after the Grizzlies made a final rally.

Lone break in the league run which starts with Kettle’s homecoming visit here Saturday will be next weekend when the Bulldogs against roll to Spokane and test their skills against area big teams in the Spokane crossover tourney.

Stats vs. Newport: Taylor Larsen-13 kills, 4 blocks, 3 digs, 6-8 serving with 3 aces; Hannah Harazin-2 kills, 3 digs, 4-4 serving; Kindra Kneale-5 kills, 1 dig, 4-5 serving; Amara Huber-4 kills, 1 block, 4 digs, 6-9 serving with 2 aces; Taylor Lange-1 block, 1 dig, 4-5 serving; Sidney Huber- 2 kills, 1 block, 4-4 serving; Misty Skelton-2 kills, 11 digs, 1-2 serving with ace; Rachel Robinson-3 digs, 7-7 serving with 2 aces; Amelie Bruya-22 assists, 1 kill, 7 digs, 19-21 serving with 3 aces; Lauren Moore-6 digs, 7-7 serving; Cassidy Vorderbrueggen-1 dig; Bailey Mackleit-2-2 serving.