By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
FEDERAL WAY - High energy plus steady serving powered Kennedy Catholic to a 3–1 NPSL 4A volleyball win at Decatur on Thurs., Oct. 3.
”Our team is young (three freshmen starters),” said Kennedy head coach Liz Quitiquit. “They can be a little up and down. We’ll see how it develops. Tonight, we served better and passed. We’re learning to play on a more consistent level. Our goal is to work on served and passing. We missed five serves in the third set.”
Jessica Obrigewitsch was solid in the middle for the Lancers.
The first set in the Gator Dome featured strong serving and passing by the Lancers in a 4-0 spurt into the lead.
After a pair of Gator points, Kennedy Catholic controlled the net to lead 12-5.
Decatur fought back with nice play from Ramona Jagger and the defense to trail only 13-12.
Sharli O’Neil was prominent on the KC front line and serve throughout the entire match and was joined by Avery Watkins and Brooklyn Thesenvitz as the Lancers assumed a 22-13 margin on the way to a victorious 25-14 first set.
The Gators had problems picking up the Kennedy Catholic serves while KC boomed ahead to big leads on serving and kills.
Leading 17-9, KC kept riding away on the path to a 25-13 set victory.
The Lancers utilized some reserves in the third set as the determined Gators energized themselves to lead 12-6 at one point.
Aryn Spencer was prominent while Decatur built up a 17-9 margin.
O’Neil, Olivia Deckard, and Avery Watkins spearheaded a huge KC rally that tied the score at 17-17.
Behind the efforts of Spencer, Decatur ripped off three consecutive points that were countered by a trio of points on O’Neil’s serve.
The teams jockeyed back and forth until the Gators led 24-23 before closing it out at 25-23.
A reenergized Lancer squad took no prisoners in a 25-11 fourth set domination.
”We had a lot of energy in the first and second sets,” said junior O’Neil. “It dropped off in the third set, but we pulled together and had a ton of energy in the fourth set.”
Although she is only a junior, her role has changed greatly from last season due to graduation of key seniors.
”This year I support the younger players and cheer them to make them feel better," she said.
