Colfax wins District 7 volleyball title

Bulldogs headed to state 2B tournament in Yakima

Teren Kowatsch, Whitman County Gazette | Nov 03, 20220

Teren Kowatsch | Whitman County Gazette count

The Colfax Bulldogs pose with their district championship plaque after defeating the Liberty (Spangle) Lancers, 3-0, on their home court Thursday night, Nov. 3.

COLFAX – Colfax secured a state playoff berth with its win over Upper Columbia Academy on Nov. 2 and a spot in the District 7 championship game against Liberty (Spangle).

The match was purely to decide seeding in the state tournament on Nov. 10-11 in Yakima, with the winner to get the No. 1 seed and the loser to get the No. 2 seed.

Colfax wasted no time getting out to an early lead Thursday night, Nov. 3, in their home gymnasium, going up 10-3 in the early stages of the first set against the Lancers. The Bulldogs continued to expand on their lead – going up 19-9 before finishing with a 6-3 run to take the first set 25-12.

Liberty pushed back against Colfax in the second set – coming back from being down 13-8 in the middle stages to get within one point (18-17).

Colfax proceeded to finish the second set out with a 7-1 run and took a 2-0 lead over the Lancers.

This was the best push-back Liberty was able to give to the Bulldogs, with the third and final set beginning much like the first with Colfax taking an 11-2 lead early on.

Liberty wasn't able to get within more than 8 points the rest of the set and Colfax won with a 25-14 final score and the 3-0 sweep in the district championship game.

Although the win gives the Bulldogs the No. 1 seed from District 7 of the Washington 2B classification, head coach Megan Dorman said the seeding isn't a major factor.

"I think with the RPI in state volleyball (seeding is) not a 'huge' huge factor," Dorman said. "It's always good ending districts on a win going into state. So, I think it's more just that momentum piece going in, and we'll see what happens once we get there."

Colfax not only ends the season with a district championship, it also ends the season with several All-League selections.

Senior Jaisha Gibb, junior Lauryn York and sophomore Brynn McGaughy all received 1st Team selections, while junior Hailey Demler received 2nd Team honors.

Stat leaders for the Bulldogs against Liberty were McGaughy with 19 kills and 3 blocks, York with 16 assists and 6 aces and Brenna Gilchrist with 12 digs.

A full State Tournament bracket will be released Sunday, Nov. 6.