After a tough opening round loss to the South Region #4 seed, Umpqua (OR), the Bellevue College Bulldogs scrapped their way to a seventh-place finish at the NWAC Championships in Tacoma. The four-day event, held at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, featured the top 16 teams in the NWAC. The seventh-place finish matches Bellevue’s finish for the last two years.
On opening day, Thursday November 17, the Bulldogs appeared to be in cruise control winning 25-20 in games one and two before falling 25-19, 25-15 and finally 15-13. Shea O’Brien had 13 kills to lead BC. The Bulldogs then had to come back and play perhaps the toughest of all elimination games as they faced a highly-ranked Spokane team. The Bulldogs won 25-21 and 25-19. Freshman Kyla Mellick stepped in for an injured Averi Dyer and came up big with eight kills and three service aces.
On Friday November 18, the Bulldogs knocked off another East Region powerhouse, topping North Idaho College (20-25, 25-10, 15-10). Mellick had 11 digs and five service aces while O’Brien and Audrey Saelens had seven kills apiece.
The Bulldogs then had to take on perennial NWAC powerhouse, Blue Mountain; Bellevue’s third straight East Region foe in loser-bracket play. This time, the squad could not overcome the depth of the East Region, bowing 25-15, 25-22 in straight sets.
Bellevue ended the season 36-10; one of the best records of all-time for the Bulldogs. The squad also defeated two of the top-ranked teams in the NWAC including North Idaho, a former national junior college powerhouse.
On Sunday November 20, the Bulldogs were also well-represented in the All-Star Game. Saelens, O’Brien, Kendle Valade-Nunez, and Alexis LeClech were named to the team for the North Region. The squad defeated the South Region two games to one.
Last Updated November 20, 2016
