Champs lead area into semis

YAKIMA – Defending state volleyball champions Colfax and Pullman returned to the SunDome in search of a repeat and both teams stepped closer to their goals Friday.

In a State 1A tournament opening day that more closely resembled a Northeast A League shootout as all three league representatives advanced to the semifinals, Colfax opened defense of its 2005 title by winning twice.

The Bulldogs defeated Lynden Christian 25-10, 25-17, 25-20 in their opener. Erin Scholz had a season-high 12 kills and Meagan Teade added seven kills, five blocks and four aces.

Kinsey Doering, who received the sportsmanship award for the match, had 18 assists. Lauren Mellar had 14 kills and 28 digs and was 19 for 20 in serves.

“We served consistent and were tough enough to get some points,” said Colfax coach Sue Doering.

In their second match, the Bulldogs swept Cedar Park Christian, 25-17, 25-5, 25-15 to advance to a 12:30 p.m. semifinal meeting today with King’s.

Mellar continued her pace with 15 kills and five digs, and Sadie Lazzarini had 10 kills.

The other 1A semifinal, at 10:45 a.m., will match Colfax’s NEA rivals, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) and Chewelah, which also swept through two matches.

Lakeside, the NEA champion which placed third in the 2A tournament a year ago before dropping down a classification, defeated Stevenson 25-14, 25-11, 25-23 and Connell 25-13, 25-20, 25-19.

Chewelah, which was third in the league behind runner-up Colfax, earned its semifinal shot with a 25-12, 25-14, 25-11 win over Montesano and a 25-8, 25-12, 25-20 sweep of Cascade Christian.

State 2A

Pullman, the reigning 2A champion, entered the tournament undefeated and remained that way with two wins.

First was Lynden, which the Greyhounds defeated 25-11, 25-20, 25-11.

“They were a tough first match, but we did a good job and had a lot of poise,” said Pullman coach Jennifer Greeny.

The Greyhounds were led by Kerry Spangenberg with 18 assists and Katie Hinrichs with four aces and 17 digs.

Pullman was pushed in a second-round win over Black Hills before prevailing 25-19, 25-16, 25-21.

In the third game, Black Hills threatened to force a fourth game before Pullman’s experience produced the win.

“We just started slow and we weren’t passing well,” Greeny said. “With a team like Black Hills, it’s hard to come back.”

Pullman will face No. 2 seed Selah in a 12:30 semifinal.

Highly regarded Grandview, which won the Crossover Classic in Spokane earlier this season, is in the other semifinal against R.A. Long.

Grandview started Riverside’s early exit from the tournament with a three-game first-round sweep, 25-9, 25-18, 25-9.

The Rams were eliminated with a 25-16, 25-14, 25-21 loss to Burlington-Edison in its second match.