By Gerardo Bolong

LACEY - Marcus Pavilion on the campus of Saint Martin's University was the final setting on Sat., Nov. 16, as the John F. Kennedy Catholic girls volleyball team secured an eighth-place Class 3A trophy in the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires state tournament.
The 10th-ranked Lancers began their day with a morning 16-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22, win against No. 6 Eastside Catholic in the consolation semifinals.
Fifth-ranked Tinberline (24-6) Timberline then took a 25-13, 16-25, 25-13, 27-25, victory against Kennedy Catholic (20-4) in the seventh-eighth place match up.

Kennedy completed a big comeback in set four to rally from a 17-9 deficit to lead 23-21, but ultimately settled for eighth place, the school's best state finish since 2008. Seniors Rachael George, Delaney Knox, Alex Rodal, Sydney Beach, and Amanda Shioyama exit their high school volleyball careers for the Lancers.
Mercer Island topped Holy Names, 21-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-25, 15-13, in the title match.
Southridge won the third-place trophy for the second straight year, after a 25-27, 26-24, 25-21, 27-25 win against Columbia River.
In the fifth-sixt place encounter, Meadowdale topped Oak Harbor, 15-12, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18.