Colfax volleyball claims first season win

COLFAX – After coming up short last week in a five-set match against the Pullman Greyhounds, the Colfax Bulldogs were in for another test this week in the team’s season opener against the 3-0 Reardan High School volleyball team.

The result of the game was a series of firsts: the first win of the season for the Bulldogs and loss for Reardan as Colfax won the match 3-1 (25-18, 26-24, 18-25, 25-19) and the first time for, at least a few people, that players, coaches and fans had to leave the building because of the smoke alarm going off.

The smoke alarm was set in the middle of the second set with the score tied 10-10 due to smoke coming from the popcorn machine at the concessions in the lunchroom at Colfax High School.

This disruptance didn’t stop the Bulldogs from taking the second set, and ultimately the game.

This was the second game in a row for the Bulldogs (1-1, 1-0) that the game went into more than three sets, this time with an outcome favoring Colfax.

“(We’re) feeling pretty good,” Colfax coach Megan Dorman said. “First game of league (competition). Yeah, it’s a good one to just squeak out and play hard at home for our friends.”

Serving and blocking were two things that Dorman mentioned that the team wanted to focus on following the Pullman loss, and although there were many points won from those facets of the game, Dorman said the team still needs to focus on them.

“(They’re) probably still two areas we need to work on,” Dorman said. “But we’ll get there.”

For Reardan, the loss is the first of the season for the team and only the second out of four games where it has had to go to extra sets against an opponent.

The Bulldogs continued their win streak against Liberty Christian in Spangle, where Colfax defeated the Lancers in 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-21, 15-13). Brynn McGaughy led the team with three blocks and 22 kills, Hailey Demler had 27 digs and 19 kills, Brenna Gilchrist had two aces and Lauryn York had 28 assists. The game was the third straight for the Bulldogs that went into extra sets.

Colfax proceeded to compete in the Crossover Classic, losing to Mead in two sets, Bellarmine Prep in three sets and Chelan in two sets in Pool Play. In Braket Play, Colfax beat Bellarmine Prep in two sets, Davis in two sets and lost to Shadle Park in three.

For the tournament, Demler had 34 kills, seven aces, 36 digs and five blocks. Jaisha Gibbs had 10 kills, three aces on 98 percent serving, 33 assists and 41 digs. McGaughy had 44 kills and 12 blocks, Ava Swan had eight blocks and Lauryn York had 12 kills, three aces on 98 percent serving, 43 assists and 36 digs. Gracie Veitenheimer also had a great day at the service line, going 37 of 38 for a 97 percent rate.

Including the matches from the tournament, the Colfax Bulldogs now stand at 4-5 on the season.