Cashmere volleyball sweeps two, then falls to Lynden Christian for first loss

CASHMERE — The top-ranked Cashmere volleyball team swept Naches Valley and Wahluke this week before No. 7 Lynden Christian handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season Friday, Oct. 16.

Lynden Christian won 25-20, 14-25, 25-22, 25-20 in a nonleague match at Ron Doane Gymnasium, a rematch of last season's state quarterfinal, which Cashmere won in five sets. The Lyncs took the first set, the Bulldogs controlled the second, and Lynden Christian won a close third set before closing it out in the fourth.

Senior Taylor Kunz led Cashmere with 16 kills and 18 digs. Senior captain Macie Smart had 13 kills, 23 digs and two blocks and went 19-for-19 serving. Faith Courtney added 11 kills, and Teagan Kerns had nine kills and seven digs and went 13-for-13 serving. Setter Cali Diaz had 46 assists and 14 digs, Mandy Barba added 17 digs, and Lydia Tate had three blocks.

Going into Friday, the Bulldogs had won all 42 sets they had played in matches that count toward their record, according to the school.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, Cashmere swept Wahluke 25-7, 25-12, 25-15 in a South Central Athletic Conference match in Mattawa, serving at 90%. Smart had 12 kills and two aces. Kunz had seven kills on nine attempts without an error, plus seven aces and seven digs. Courtney added six kills and four aces, and Diaz had 23 assists.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Bulldogs swept Naches Valley 25-10, 25-18, 25-13 in their annual Pink Out match, which raised breast cancer awareness and collected donations for cancer research and local patients. Diaz had 22 assists, Smart had nine kills and two blocks, and Kunz and Courtney each had seven kills. Barba led the defense with 13 digs.

The Bulldogs return to SCAC play next week.