Beginning her ninth year as Oak Harbor High School head volleyball coach, Kerri Molitor said the Wildcats have a solid base of players to build the team around.

These players include the starting front line from last year composed of seniors Kim Mowbray, Jennifer Jansen and Jessica Muzzall.

“Jennifer is our team captain and she has been showing some very strong leadership on the court,” Molitor said.

Joining the senior trio is junior Melany Cone, who will be handling the setting duties this season.

“All of the other players we have on the varsity roster have moved up from last year’s junior varsity team,” Molitor said.

Last year, the varsity finished the season with an impressive 6-2 league record and 11-5 overall mark. The Wildcats advanced to the district tournament where they dropped matches to Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace.

As always, Oak Harbor will be

up against stiff competition in the WesCo North against the likes of Monroe, Stanwood and Marysville-Pilchuck, but Molitor said she expects the Wildcats will be very competitive again in 2008.

“We have a tough league but regardless who is on the other side of the net, I think we are going to do all right,” she said. “Overall, I think our league is well balanced and any one of the teams can rise to the occasion on any given night.”

Molitor said the team has been working hard making preparations for competition in early-season practice sessions.

“Until we can really get out there on the court and see some of the other teams, we’re going to prepare as much as we can and take care of what’s on our side of the court,” she said.

Oak Harbor hosts its jamboree today, Sept. 6, featuring teams from Coupeville, La Conner, Bush and Kennedy, and plays its first home match of the season Thursday, Sept. 11, against Snohomish in a non-league encounter.