The Lake Washington volleyball team fell to Mercer Island in their first conference game of the season last Thursday. The Kangs, playing in the 3A KingCo league this year for the first time in several years, lost 3-0.

In the first game, Lake Washington (0-3) grabbed an early lead with Emina Dodic earning the Kangs a 5-0 lead before the Islanders began to chat up. In what would be a reoccurring theme of the night, the team’s traded points and the lead through the first game, until the Islanders gained the edge after the score was tied at 20. Mercer Island took the first game 25-20.

In the second game Mercer Island, looking more settled than in the first, took the early lead and quickly took the game with a score of 25-18.

In the third game of the match the teams kept trading the lead, but Lake Washington fumbled their chances and Mercer Island won their third straight 25-22.

Claire Lazar, the new head coach for the Kangaroos said she was very proud of the team for setting up a strong offense on the court.

“It’s a new day, the beginning of a new chapter and they are so honed it on that,” said Lazar. “We’re going to some spectacular things, we feel like this is the team.”

One of her goals for the season is to help build the volleyball community at Lake Washington, including special nights for members of the youth volleyball teams.

“My focus is on building a community,” she said. “Not just having one winning team.”

The team lost 3-1 to Skyline last Friday in a non-league home match. The team also lost to Interlake on Monday evening, falling 3-1. The Kangs traveled to Mount Si on Wednesday, after Reporter deadline. They will face Liberty in an away game on Monday, Sept. 20 starting at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 9

Mercer Island def. Lake Washington 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-22).

Friday, Sept. 10

Skyline def. Lake Washington 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 18-25, 25-16).

Monday, Sept. 13

Interlake def. Lake Washington 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 20-25, 25-20).

Juanita defeats Sammamish in KingCo volleyball

The Juanita varsity volleyball team started off their conference season with a win over Sammamish last Thursday. The Rebels won in three games, beating the Totems 25-14, 25-10, 25-12.

The team went 1-3 during the Mariner Classic tournament, beating Blaine High School, and falling to Granite Falls, Shorecrest and Shorewood.

Against Mercer Island on Monday night the Rebels lost in a 3-2 battle for a conference win.

Mercer Island took the first game 25-21, before Juanita settled in and grabbed with second with a score of 25-22. The Islanders took the third game 25-16, but again the Rebels forced a fifth match, winning game four 25-16. But the Islanders prevailed in game five, winning the night 15-10.

The Rebels, currently 2-3 this season, will take on Mount Si Monday, Sept. 20.