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Lady Cougars Bow Out Of Section Playoffs
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Escalon’s Melanie Smith, 15, at right, gets up above the net to send the ball back over in earlier season action on the home court. The Lady Cougars were slated to host Skyline of Oakland to start NorCals action on Tuesday night, Nov.6. Marg Jackson/The Times

It was a long trip to Colfax for semifinal action in the Sac-Joaquin Section volleyball playoffs … and it likely felt a little longer on the way back.

After taking a 25-22 victory in the first set, Escalon battled but could never find a way to get back in the win column, falling in a 3-1 final to host Colfax on Oct. 30, ending their section playoff run.

Scores were close all the way through and two of the four sets went past the usual 25-point win mark. Final scores for the contest were 25-22, 26-28, 19-25, 25-27.

“We played great; just came up short with some errors at the wrong time,” said head coach Teresa Williamson. “Hannah Boyd moved the ball around well and Melanie Smith really stepped it up with 14 kills and five blocks.”

Boyd notched 37 assists on the night, Mandy Murphy had 14 kills and Tess Cosby had 31 digs. Boyd and Meadow Naraghi each had three aces as well.

“The girls never gave up. They fought hard to the last point,” Williamson said.

Colfax then faced off with Trans-Valley League champion Hilmar in the finals with the Yellowjackets completing a clean sweep of opponents in the playoffs, winning the finals 3-0 to claim the Section crown.

Escalon was scheduled to start play in the NorCals with a game at home on Tuesday, Nov. 6 after The Times went to press, hosting Skyline out of Oakland.