ENTIAT — One thing that has eluded Gene Dowers in his 15 years as the Pateros volleyball coach is a district championship.

Now he and the Nannies are just three wins from changing that.

Fourth-seeded Pateros upset top-seeded Wilson Creek in five sets (14-25, 26-24, 25-20, 14-25, 16-14) in the first round of the North Central Washington 1B district tournament on Tuesday, locking up a spot in Saturday’s district-championship match against Thorp, which beat Moses Lake Christian in the other first-round match.

“I’m really proud of this group,” Dowers said of the Nannies, who are 10-6 overall this season. “I think they’re starting to see that on a good night they can beat pretty much anybody.”

That includes the Devils, who beat Pateros twice in the regular season.

The Nannies’ serving turned out to be the key Tuesday, with Katie Richardson serving five points in a row — including three aces — to bring Pateros back from a 14-11 deficit to win the fifth set.

Richardson finished with nine aces on the night, and the team had 17 total.

Pateros was able to keep league MVP Ksenja Fredere under wraps just enough to earn the victory.

“Fredere got a lot of points, but our block changed a lot of shots for her,” said Dowers.

First team all-league selection Chancy Gill led the Nannies with 10 kills, while Brandee Huey added nine and Casey Stennes chipped in seven.

Dowers also praised the play of setter Brenda Rios, who finished with 16 assists.

The Nannies now meet Thorp at 10 a.m. Saturday in Entiat for the district title.

The loser will then play the winner of a match between Wilson Creek and Moses Lake Christian for the second and final berth to state.

• NCW2B district tourney

Liberty Bell 3, Bridgeport 1

Bridgeport came from behind three times to tie the score in the fourth set on Tuesday, but Liberty Bell prevailed 25-18, 20-25, 25-18, 26-24 to avenge a three-set loss last week to the Fillies.

“We just couldn’t get over the top to get a lead,” Bridgeport coach Calvin Stark said. “(Liberty Bell) played aggressive and made some great digs.”

Danyelle Cavadini made 12 kills and seven digs to lead the Fillies in the loss.

Arely Garza added 24 assist and Daisy Saucedo chipped in six kills and four blocks.

Kittitas 3, Waterville 0

The Shockers fell 25-11, 25-15, 25-15 to Kittitas’ powerful offense on Tuesday, putting them one loss away from elimination.

Chloe Pietrandria had five kills, Taylor Northcott made 11 kills, and Cassidy Simmons was 7-for-7 serving with four kills for Waterville in the loss.

• CWAC district play-in

Ephrata 3, Prosser 2

The Tigers bounced back from a lopsided first-set loss to beat Prosser 11-25, 25-21, 25-23, 24-26, 15-12, and earn their way into district play.

Brent Stecker: 661-5222

stecker@wenworld.com