Oakesdale and Colfax volleyball off to state

Oakesdale will be looking to defend its 1B state championship trophy while Colfax will hope to add its first 2B state championship since 2015 to its trophy case.

Colfax has made the state tournament every year aside from one since its 2015 state championship win over La Conner, but has yet to finish over fifth place in state championship play.

Oakesdale has won eight out of 10 1B state championships and is looking to extend that streak to nine out of 11.

Both teams won their respective district tournaments – leading to a No. 4 seed in the 2B tournament for Colfax and a No. 1 seed and a first-round bye for Oakesdale.

"I think we're just really excited," Oakesdale coach McKinzie Turner said. "Really excited to go back to take another shot at the state title. Obviously there's some pressure to it, but I think there's also a calmness to it. We just know that we have to take care of business. This is the second year in a row we've been the No. 1 seed going into the tournament and I think there's just excitement about it. Excitement to see all of (the girls') hard work over the last two years paying off."

A state title win would cap off an amazing season for the Nighthawks, which include three tournament wins including the District Tournament and a season in which the Nighthawks went undefeated and did not give up a set to opponents outside of tournament play during the season.

For Colfax, they're on its own amazing run, having a tournament win in the Linda Sheridan tournament and only dropping two regular-season games – a five-set loss to Pullman to begin the season and a loss to Ferris high school near the end.

"I think with the RPI in state volleyball (the No. 1 seed) is not a huge, huge factor," Colfax head coach Megan Dorman said. "It's always good to end districts on a win going into state, so I think it's more just that. That momentum piece going in and then we'll see what happens once we get there."

Oakesdale defeated Liberty Christian 3-0 on Nov. 5 to clinch its ticket to state while Colfax defeated Liberty (Spangle) 3-0 to punch its own ticket.

The state tournament for both schools will begin Nov. 10 at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, WA.

Colfax will begin state tournament play at 9:45 a.m. Nov. 10 against No. 13-seed Granger and Oakesdale will begin at 1: 30 p.m. Nov. 10 and will play the winner of Waterville-Mansfield and Orcas Island.