By Gerardo Bolong

LACEY - The volleyball courts in the Marcus Pavilion proved to be tough starters for the John F. Kennedy Catholic girls volleyball team when No. 4 state ranked Mercer Island (19-2) captured a 3-1 verdict in a first round 3A

state girls volleyball match at Saint Martin's University.

"We had a good effort," said Lancer coach Joanne Uhl. "We were slow starting and did not play our best, but Mercer Island is a great team and took us out of what we do best. Maybe,it was also a little nervousness under the lights (at state)."

Kennedy showed good energy in the first set while the teams battled to a 14-14 standoff.

Kennedy gained leads of 2-4 points, the last being 21-17, ahead of an Islander comeback that brought them within two points twice and eventually to six more ties, the last at 27-27. Two consecutive Mercer Island points netted the first set.

Outside hitting and strong middle blocking for Mercer Island turned a 12-9 lead into an 18-9 dominance as the Islanders rolled to a 25-12 win.

In the third set, the Lancer middle blockers and outside hitters took advantage of Islander mistakes to gradually gain the upper hand and blow out Mercer Island, 25-18.

Leading 16-14 in the fourth set, the Islanders exchanged 3-0 runs with the Lancers and later gained leads at 21-17 and 23-18. Apryll Eneliko slammed home a kill to make the score 23-19, but two Mercer Island kills later, the Lancers were sent into the consolation bracket.

Apryll Eneliko registered 17 kills against the strong Islander front line while Shayne McPherson blasted home eight kills. Setter Amanda Shioyama dealt out 30 assists.