Wildcats book solid run into 1B title rematch

Colton’s Wildcats booked a solid run in the 1B show all the way up to the title game against the Nighthawks. Coach Kelli Dahmen said the Wildcats knew what they wanted to accomplish at Yakima and took it one game at a time.

“Overall, I’m very proud of them and what they accomplished,” Coach Dahmen said.

Head Coach Kelli Dahmen, Winnie Schultheis, Heather Young, Zoe Moser, Jackie Warner, Jenna Moser, Kaitlin Druffel, Payton Meyer, Paige Vincent, Kaden Dahmen, RayLynn Smith, Hannah Kramer, Savannah Chadwick, Assistant Coach Jody Moehrle.

The Wildcats’ run again ended with a loss to their cross-county rivals, Tekoa/Oakesdale, in the title game. Dahmen noted the Nighthawks attack with an offense which is tough to block out for most opponents.

“Even if we came up with something different, they would probably change their offense to stop it,” Coach Dahmen commented.

Colton faced the Nighthawks four times this year with two of the matches in the playoff rounds.

They started the season with a non-league match against the defending champions, faced them in the league round and again in the top qualifier round at Colfax last week.

Colton started their Yakima run with a four-game run over Moses Lake Christian, one of the perennial contenders in the state show. Line score for the match win was 26-24 25-15 23-25 and 25-16.

In the quarter finals, the Wildcats defeated Shoreline Christian 25-22, 25-16 and 25-17.

Colton then went up against St. John/Endicott in the semi-final round. The two county SE teams were seeded into the lower bracket of the state finals after the Eagles fought through the consolation bracket last week at Colfax.

SJE roared to a first-game win, 25-18, but Colton got back on track and booked the last three game wins to advance to the final round. Scores for the last three semi-finals was 25-23 25-23 and 25-22.

Junior Jenna Moser had 63 kills in the tournament run with 14 in the title game. Wildcats setter Kayden Dahmen had 51 assists for the tournament run.

Payton Meyer had three blocks in the title game, and Paige Vincent and RayLynn Smith each hit two aces against the Nighthawks.

Colton will graduate five seniors off the team which took them to the title match for two straight years.

“We will be in a building season next year, but we will be doing it with players who have had a lot of experience over the past two years,” Coach Dahmen commented.