Colfax defeats Reardan in straight sets

REARDAN - The Colfax volleyball team defeated the Screaming Eagles in straight sets Thursday, Oct 19. The Bulldogs won 25-15, 25-8, 25-20 to improve their record to 8-1 in the NE2B League.

The Bulldogs, with a roster of mostly juniors and seniors, proved to be too strong for the mostly freshman Screaming Eagles.

Colfax scored the first six points of the first set and kept Reardan on its heels with power shots from the front row. Reardan could score points in small bunches, but not enough to keep pace with the Bulldogs, who won 25-15.

In the second set, Colfax put on an offensive clinic. Brenna Gilchrist, Hailey Demler and Ava Swan played big at the net, each scoring on kill shots.

Colfax opened up a 15-3 lead and cruised to a 25-8 win.

Reardan came out aggressive in the third set, jumping to a 12-6 lead before Colfax went on a 10-point run.

In the latter stages of the set, Reardan drew to within two points, but Colfax closed the door on the Screaming Eagles' rally with its overpowering play at the net to seal the 25-20 win.

Swan led the Bulldogs with 13 kills, three aces and one block. Lauryn York had a game high 24 assists.

Emersen Sprecher had nine kill shots for Reardan and Lillie Whitman had 13 assists. Tenice Waters recorded three kills and three blocks.

"We definitely played well tonight," York said. "We came together as a team after having suffered a ton of injuries."

She thought her teammates in the front row played especially well.

"I think Ava Swan and the other girls did a great job tonight. They came in ready to hit."

"The game got dicey a couple times," Colfax head coach Megan Dorman said. "But playing from behind is something we've worked on in practice."

Reardan assistant coach Mike Lyon said the three-game match summed up the Screaming Eagles' season.

"We played pretty good in the first set, really bad in the second and pretty good in the third set. That's how it's been," Lyon said. "We're just a roller-coaster. That's what you get when you start a bunch of freshmen."

Lyon said the season was a great learning experience for his players.

"Next year is very encouraging, especially since we're so young," he said. "The sky is the limit for this group. In two years, they're going to be a handful."

The win improved Colfax's record to 8-1. The loss ended the Screaming Eagles season with a record of 2-10 in league play and 3-11 overall.