The Bellevue Bulldogs volleyball team was knocked out of the NWAACC Championship Tournament on the second day of double-elimination play. The four day tournament, held at Mount Hood CC in Gresham, Oregon, began Thursday, Nov. 15, with the Bulldogs matched up against the West #3 team, the Pierce Raiders. It was the third meeting for these teams in the season, and Bellevue had won both previous matches. Bellevue won again this time, but it took five games: 25-16, 15-25, 20-25, 25-16 and 16-14. Freshman Kylai Cooley led the Bulldogs with 21 kills, followed by Laura Friar with 17, and Darian Foley with 16. The Bulldog defense was led by Madison Agnew with 25 digs, Friar with 21, and Cooley and defensive specialist Annie Phan with 17 each. Foley also led the Bulldogs defense with 2.5 blocks in the match. Krista Groves had 57 assists in the match.
The Thursday victory carried the Bulldogs over into a Friday match in the early afternoon against South Region powerhouse, Mount Hood, unbeaten in regular season play. These teams had also met previously at the Shoreline Crossover where they had split, with Bellevue winning one match, and Mount Hood, the other. With the home court and home crowd advantage on Nov. 16, the Saints handed the Bulldogs their first defeat of this tournament in three, 25-22, 25-18 and 25-19, sending Bellevue to the loser bracket to face the Umpqua Riverhawks.
Late Friday afternoon, in game 20 of the double elimination bracket, the Umpqua Riverhawks put an end to Bellevue’s tournament run in two sets, 25-15 and 29-27. The Bulldogs’ kills, usually in double-digits, were held to less than ten per player as outside hitter Friar had seven, Cooley had six, and middle blocker Foley managed five. Libero Agnew led the Bulldogs with 10 digs followed by setter Groves with eight and Phan with seven. Groves had 19 assists in the match.
The Bulldogs end their 2012 season 11-1 in league play and 28-11 overall.
Last Updated January 27, 2014
