Kennedy’s volleyball team dealt early, lasting blows to rival Mount Rainier in a match on the Rams’ home court on Seniors Night for a 25-13, 25-19, 25-16, sweep win in regular season-ending action Tuesday.

“We won the serve-receive battle, kept them off-balance, and didn’t let them get into their offense,” said Lancers coach Tom Muckerheide. Kennedy improved to 8-0 in the Seamount League while the Rams fell to 6-2, having lost to the Lancers and also Highline this season.

Chelsea Miller, Kathleen Mulligan, Melissa Yapp - the Rams’ top players -- just seemed unable to get any semblance of a charge in this one going against the Lancers.

Eneliko is where the most credit is due. The Rams’ seniors, Melissa Yapp, Chelsea Miller, Ellen VanWyk and Emily Lewis were given the above mentioned things.

“We came out to do our thing,” she said, almost shrugging her shoulders. The Rams’ Miller came over to say hi, congratulate Eneliko and started to hug her.

“Can I join in,” asked Amanda Zilke, a senior, outside hitter and blocker for the Lancers, standing nearby.

“Sure,” they said, laughing. “We got some friends on the other team,” said Eneliko.

But business is business and Eneliko did no monkeying around in helping her Lancers’ team secure its undefeated record.

The private Catholic school’s young ladies jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first game, thanks to great serving for four points in that time by Eneliko, capped off by a kill by her, too.

The Rams started game one well, too, let’s note, as they tied things, 4-4, before giving up six straight points to the Lancers -- largely because of what Muckerheide noted above. The Rams could not effectively turn Eneliko’s hard serves into palatable returns for themselves.

“They came out strong,” said Zilke, giving the Rams some credit.

Actually, so did Muckerheide.

“The scores do not reflect that Mount Rainier had some runs where they could have got some things going,” he said.

But Eneliko’s evident domination was a reflection that might as well have been Medusa’s because her efforts were definitely noticed by the other team that could not cope with her early serve domination that did turn, if nothing else, the Rams’ momentum to stone.

“One player can’t carry a team, but it helps,” said Rams senior captain, Melissa Yapp, who blocked a lot of Lancers kill tries in a losing effort. Zilke complemented Eneliko well, carrying some of the block and kill stat load for her team alongside Eneliko.

Eneliko had 16 kills on the night and Zilke 10.

“I think we will do well. We have a close team and we have a lot of fun out there together,” said Zilke, who has a younger sister, Lauren, on the team. The Lancers looked like they were having fun out there, powering by the Rams with Eneliko and Zilke hitting in game three (both Zilkes had a couple each). Then in game three it was good hitting from sophomore Jennica McPherson, which really spoke of the nice balance throughout this match for the Lancers in getting different scoring from players on their team. McPherson had seven kills herself.

The most help comes from the setters, so let’s give more credit where credit is due, like to Katie Key getting 20 assists for the Lancers. Also, Emily Lockett made some good serves up there in the air close to the net for setting up the likes of Eneliko and the Zilkes for kill points.

The Rams got kills on this night from sophomore Kathleen Mulligan, with eight, and defense from Rendoni, who does a good, scrappy job around the court getting potential kills with her diving to the ground to keep the ball from hitting it. Rendoni had 12 digs in this match.

Also, the Rams had their best chance to win a game when they battled back from an 11-7 deficit in game three to tie things up, 11-11.

Christina Postnikoff got the Rams to a tie with her quick, line-drive serves for four straight points, but that was game three and the momentum by then was all Lancers.

But the future of this season is still there for the Rams and Yapp says they are growing and their main task of playing close to the Lancers in blocking was realized.

“That is what our focus was on,” said Yapp, who had five blocks to lead the team. “We have a lot of growing to do, we will work it out in the end.”

The girls were going to work out there without their head coach, Brian Harley. Danny Lum-Lung was filling in.

Harvey’s situation was not disclosed.

“We appreciate Danny stepping in to help out,” said Rendoni, with Yapp nodding.

But the person that coached them from the preseason and then during most of the season understands plays best and knows how each girl ticks out there. That goes without saying.

“That makes it difficult,” said Rendoni. “It makes it difficult, but I think the girls kept level headed and kept their composure.”

Now it is time for life after league, where the Lancers will try and improve over last year’s seventh place state finish and the year before that’s better yet, second. The Rams also will be in the starting Seamont League tournament that changes to the district tournament for those that qualify and then finishes up with state in mid-November.

“Sometimes we look like we might be better than seventh,” said Muckerheide, mentioning the Mountain View invitational. “We could be a top team. At other times we don’t look that high.”

So how far does Lancers hitting star, Eneliko, really think this team will go?

“We are going to be No.1,” said Eneliko. “I am so exited. Now that it’s districts, we are getting pumped.”

Eneliko is a senior hitter for the Lancers going to Oregon State to play with the big girls at the D-1elite volleyball level. She and senior hitter Amanda Zilke, are ready for this next part -- the postseason.

“Yes, we are,” said Zilke. “Can’t wait.”

“I think we are doing pretty well,” said McPherson. “We’ve been ranked pretty high and I hope that reflects how well we are doing.”

The Lancers and Rams both will go to the postseason subdistricts stage next which will be played on Kennedy’s home court.