After losing first two games, Bulldogs rally back
to beat La Conner again for 1A championship

By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Dire as circumstances appeared to be, Lauren Mellor knew the final points of a state volleyball championship was no time to hold back.

And just to be sure, Colfax coach Sue Doering reminded her best hitter of exactly that.

Down 12-9 in the fifth and deciding game and with momentum squarely in La Conner's court, Doering called timeout, looked Mellor in the eyes and said, "Go up high and go up strong. No tipping — just swing hard."

The 5-foot-11 junior middle proceeded to pound two of the most powerfully struck kills of her life to tie the score and her ensuing stuff block put the Bulldogs ahead for good as Colfax pulled out an improbable repeat of its Class 1A state title, rallying to outcome La Conner 20-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-23, 15-12 in the SunDome on Saturday.

"It's just incredible. I'm speechless," said Doering, who upped her haul of state titles to seven, including four in the last six years. "These girls never think their done, and even after losing the first two games they believed they could come back."

Mellor's 22 kills and 17 blocks led the comeback, which included late rallying in the fourth and fifth games.

"We turned it around by coming back quick after a mistake," she said. "In the first two games we were giving up points in streaks and we had to step up and stop that. It wasn't just one or two of us — we all knew what we had to do."

In a rematch of last year's final, La Conner appeared well on track to avenge the 3-0 championship loss, storming to a sweep over top-ranked Liberty Bell in the semifinals and then besting Colfax in the first two games.

But when Colfax came to life with a 10-point win in game three — La Conner's first dropped game of the tournament — the door was open for a comeback.

"Two evenly matched teams, very evenly matched," said La Conner coach Suzanne Marble. "We just didn't play mentally tough enough down the stretch. And they are so seasoned, I mean look how many times they've been here and won. Colfax just doesn't make mistakes."

Realistically, Colfax made its share of mistakes in the two-hour battle. But not during its 6-0 finishing run.

After Doering's timeout, La Conner was called for a double contact, drawing Colfax within 12-10. That returned the serve to the Bulldogs, and when senior Kendrin Maj took the ball Doering knew they were in good hands.

It was Maj who served the final six points in a semifinal win over Kalama last year and she was currently on a hot streak.

"Kendrin hasn't missed a serve in probably three weeks," Doering said.

Not only did Maj serve the final five points while Mellor was dominating the net, but match point came on her hard tailing ace down the leftside line.

"I was aiming right for that line," said Maj, who was 31-for-31 serving with three aces. "When it was match point I thought about backing off a little, but then I figured I should just keep doing what I was doing."

A second straight runner-up trophy may have left La Conner wanting, but the Braves can do something about it next year since they lose only one starter and two seniors overall.

Saturday's final for third and sixth place also went five games as Liberty Bell bested Bellevue Christian 25-15, 8-25, 26-24, 16-25, 15-12.

The scrappy Mountain Lions, who were two-and-out here last year, managed to offset BC's towering height with speed and defense. With the fifth game tied 12-12, Liberty Bell scored the final three points with the help of an ace from Stephanie Figgione.

"We knew we could win the backrow game so we were just trying to survive at the net," said LB coach Greg Knott. "They're so big (three 6-3 players) that when they got a good pass they'd just come right down the pike. We knew they'd get their hits, but we wanted the game decided in the backrow and it finally was."

STATISTICAL LEADERS (reported by coaches)
Colfax highlights: Lauren Mellor 22 kills, 17 blocks; Kendrin Maj 10 kills, 6 blocks, 31-31 serving, 3 aces; Abby Bruya 21 assists, 9 digs; Katie Burns 17 digs.
La Conner highlights: Kathy Paul 11 kills, 6 blocks, 10 digs; Cora Kellerman 8 kills; Jaynie Hancock 8 kills, 5 blocks; Carlee Marble 18 assists, 9 digs.