LA CONNER — As odd as it may seem, the two-time defending Class 2B state volleyball champion may be the one with something to prove.

La Conner is hoping to get revenge three years later and claim its third straight Class 2B state title in the process at the state tournament, which begins Thursday in Yakima.

The reason the Braves are not a four-time defending state champion is because Colfax is.

Senior Kelsey Kennedy is the only La Conner player who was in high school when the teams last met, but she wasn’t on varsity.

“I’m really excited,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time, but I would love to play Colfax in the championship. I want that goal.”

In the three years since the teams last met, the rosters of both schools have turned over almost completely. Both teams graduated big senior classes and have gone with a lot of new faces this season.

“None of our girls have ever played against each other, which is really nice going into this,” Braves coach Suzanne Marble said. “It’s all new, and it’s all fresh. Colfax is a name that the other girls had to deal with.”

In 2004, Colfax ended a Cinderella run by a sophomore-dominated Braves squad with a three-game sweep in the Class 1A state finals. A year later, La Conner took the first two games of the rematch, only to see Colfax rally for a five-game victory.

The rivalry cooled in 2006 when La Conner dropped down to the new 2B classification while Colfax stayed at 1A.

Both teams cruised to titles that year, and repeated in 2007, albeit with a couple close calls along the way.

A lot will have to go right before the two teams meet. They are on opposite sides of the bracket, with plenty of potential hurdles. They can’t meet until the final day of the tournament, and only will if they are playing for the title or happen to lose in the same round.

“I’m glad they’re on the other side of the bracket, for all the hype that goes along with that,” Marble said. “They are solid. They don’t make a lot of errors, but they’re not as powerful at the net as they used to be. But they’re still a very strong force to be reckoned with.”

The likeliest spot would be the championship match. The Braves have been ranked first and the Bulldogs second, all year. Neither has lost this season outside of tournament play.

Which doesn’t mean the path for either is easy. The Braves need two wins face a potential semifinal matchup with either Davenport or Riverside Christian, both tough squads.

“We’re looking at other teams, too. We’re just not focusing on Colfax,” junior Julie Hulbert said. “It’s fun that they’re going to be in the 2B Tournament this year. All the teams, we’re ready to go out and play. Davenport, Pomeroy — all those teams will be excited to be out there. Darrington and Shoreline (Christian), they’re out there, too.”

Colfax could have to go through a pair of Northwest 2B/1A League teams just to get to the Braves, as well as No. 6 Toutle Lake in the quarterfinals and undefeated and third-ranked Tekoa-Oakesdale in the semifinals.

The Braves relative youth this season means a lot of players will be taking the court for the first time at state.

“I’m very excited to be there with all the girls. I know what to expect,” said junior Anna Thostenson, one of the first timers. “There’s pressure for us to win, and we know that, and that keeps us going hard.”

The Braves quest for a third straight state title begins at 1 p.m. Thursday against Pomeroy.

Eric Francis can be reached at 360-416-2131 or by e-mail at