By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Kennedy Catholic of Burien spiked its way to the state Class 3A volleyball title this past weekend, winning all four tournament games played at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

The Lancers capped off their stay with a 3-1 victory over Columbia River after defeating West Central District nemesis Auburn-Riverside, 3-2, in the semifinals played earlier Saturday. They opened with a 3-0 victory over Stanwood Friday morning and defeated Mount Spokane by the same 3-0 margin in the quarterfinals Friday evening.

Set scores in the championship were 27-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-20 in favor of JFK, while the semifinal was a tight, 25-18, 20-25, 25-13. 13-25. 15-10 victory over the defending state champion Ravens of Auburn-Riverside.

The Lancers were 25-18, 25-13, 25-13 winners over Mount Spokane in the quarterfinals and 25-17, 25-12, 25-11 winners over Stanwood to open.

It was the first ever volleyball state championship at Kennedy, even though the Lancers have been frequent visitors to the tournament.

Senior Shayne McPherson of the Lancers was named as the tournament Most Valuable Player.

McPherson netted 23 kills and 22 digs in the championship match.

She is the younger sister of Western Washington University senior standout Jennica McPherson.
Apryll Eneliko, another senior for the Lancers, was also named to the state all-tournament team.

She came through with 25 kills in the final and 21 in the semifinal.

Kennedy had also edged Auburn-Riverside in the district tournament semifinal and lost, 3-2, to the same Columbia River team in that championship.

The Lancers team coached by Liz Quitiquit finished with a 29-2 overall season record as the second place Chieftains wound up with a 24-4 mark.

Auburn-Riverside went on to finish third and went 30-4 on the year. The Ravens defeated Shorewood, 3-1, in the match for third and fourth with Shorewood winding up at 25-3.