The move to the SCAC has gone so smoothly for the Cashmere volleyball team that the long bus rides for league road matches – none shorter than 75 miles – are  welcomed.

“That has been a bonus,” said Bulldogs coach Katie Broadbent of the treks, during which her team bonds.

Maybe that’s why Cashmere enjoyed its best season in school history last fall, claiming fifth place at the Class 1A state tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Or, more likely, it was a lineup absent of seniors that went unscathed in SCAC play.

Topped by conference player of the year Macie Smart, an outside hitter, the all-SCAC team was dotted with Bulldogs. Setter Cali Diaz and middle hitter Taylor Kunz joined Smart on the first team, while Mandy Barba (libero) and Hazel Schade (middle hitter) were on the second team and outside hitter Teagan Kerns was honorable mention.

Broadbent, now in her fifth season, was conference coach of the year.

“It’s so exciting just to have the whole team back,” she said.

A week into the new campaign, the Bulldogs, ranked third in the coaches poll, jump started their season where they capped it last November.

Ripping through pool play without dropping a set, Cashmere advanced to the championship of the small-school session of the SunDome Volleyball Festival two weeks ago. There, the Bulldogs unseated two-time defending Festival and 2B champion Manson in straight sets.

“We got better throughout the day,” Broadbent said. “We played some of the best volleyball we’ve played this season.”

That’s carried over to conference play, where Cashmere improved to 6-0 with a sweep Tuesday night at Naches Valley.

The Bulldogs will break from SCAC play Monday to visit former Caribou Trail League rival Chelan.

It’ll likely be the toughest test of the season yet for the Bulldogs, as the Goats have won three straight 1A titles and are ranked No. 2.

It’s a welcomed challenge.

“Our athletic director Jeff Carlson scheduled this, and we need to see some of the competition we’ll see in the postseason,” Broadbent said. “We’ll see where we’re at and get ready for the second half of the season.”

WENATCHEE MARCHES ON: Wenatchee has handed Davis and West Valley their only losses of the young conference schedule, as it looks to sweep through the CBBN undefeated for the third straight season.

Winners of the 2023 4A tournament and third place last year, the Panthers have reloaded after graduating several all-leaguers from last season.

CWAC GETS GOING: Although CWAC teams have been playing each other regularly this season, the matches will start counting toward the conference standings Thursday.

Each team plays eight conference matchups – as do soccer and football.