November 14, 2004 in Sports

Colfax gives coach special win at state

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During the prematch introductions, Colfax coach Sue Doering jumped to give sophomore Lauren Mellor a high-five. By the time the first game started, Doering would have needed a stepladder.

The Bulldogs, playing with added emotion since learning their coach had breast cancer, dominated La Conner 3-0 in the State 1A volleyball championship match Saturday night in the Yakima SunDome.

The scores were 25-15, 25-18, 25-22.

“These girls have been on a mission all season,” a tearful Doering said after adding to state titles her teams won at Colfax in 2000 and 2001. Earlier this season, she won her 500th career match.

“Actually, these seniors have been on a mission since seventh grade,” she said. “This has been one of the most … emotional seasons I’ve been through. It’s been more rocky for me than it has for them, even though they didn’t know if I’d be at practice or not from one day to the next after they found out I had cancer.”

Doering has worn a stocking cap to cover the effects of chemotherapy, and others among her coaching staff and team have adopted the practice in a show of unity, so to speak.

“It was really hard when we first found out (about Doering’s illness),” said Mellor, a 5-foot-11 sophomore who helped the Bulldogs control play at the net. “But she’s been awesome. We weren’t going to lose tonight.”

None of the games was in doubt, even though coach Suzanne Marble’s young Braves fought throughout. While Colfax’s roster listed only four seniors, La Conner had no seniors and only one junior.

The Bulldogs had reached the final by sweeping Onalaska 25-21, 25-10, 25-16 earlier Saturday. LaConner had subdued Goldendale 21-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21.

Last year, Colfax was the tournament runner-up to Lind-Ritzville. Colfax has won six titles since 1982.

2A tournament

Pullman finished seventh in the 2A tournament in Yakima after losing in five games to Lynden Christian 13-25, 14-25, 27-25, 25-19, 15-8. Lynden Christian finished fourth. The Greyhounds beat Rochester 25-14, 25-8, 15-9 to earn a spot in the trophy round.

Colville took home the eighth-place trophy after losing its final game to Omak 25-22, 25-18, 25-18. Omak finished 5th. The Indians beat Eatonville 25-7, 25-11, 25-20 to earn their spot in the trophy round.

Meridian won the state title by beating Woodland 25-21, 16-25, 25-16, 25-19.

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