Oak Harbor splits first two matches

After an impressive 3-0 non-league victory over Cascade Tuesday night in the opening volleyball match of the season, the Oak Harbor Wildcats had numerous errors in Thursday’s home match against Burlington-Edison.

The smaller but disciplined Tigers lost the first game 27-25, but came back in the next three games to beat the Wildcats 25-20, 25-19, 25-17 and win the match.

Burlington-Edison was able to move the ball around on the court, and that gave the young Wildcats all kinds of problems.

The Tigers were able to find vacant spaces on the floor and kills at the net by Cheryl Eubanks and Rachel Tingley resulted in many points for Burlington-Edison.

“We’re still learning and we’re still young,” coach Kerri Molitor said. “We have some good, returning experience, but some of our other players are still young.”

In the first game, the Tigers pulled out to a 6-0 lead before the Wildcats were able to battle back thanks to the serving of Kim Mowbray and work at the net by Jennifer Jansen and Jessica Muzzall.

“They definitely worked us out on the floor and we have to learn to play a lot smarter,” Muzzall said.

The two squads traded points down the stretch and the game was tied three times before Oak Harbor’s Devin Tanner served the winning point for a 27-25 victory.

The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead to open the second game, but then the mistakes started piling up.

Long returns and net serves cost the Wildcats points and Burlington-Edison was quickly able to build a 10-4 lead that was never surrendered.

Oak Harbor continued to trail by six points most of the way and the Tigers captured the second game 25-20.

“It was a learning experience for us,” Mowbray said. “It showed us there was no way we’ll ever have a chance to win with that many serves out and that many long hits that went out.”

In the third and fourth games, Burlington-Edison’s Kinsey Davis became almost an unstoppable force. The senior took charge both on the offensive and defensive sides of the court and the Tigers rolled to victory in the final two games 25-19, 25-17.

“It’s still early in the season and overall I think they’re learning and figuring out what it is to be a varsity squad,” Molitor said.

The Wildcats play in the Sundome Volleyball Festival at Yakima High School today and host Kamiak in their next home match at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.

Wildcats bounce Cascade

The Oak Harbor High School volleyball team opened the season in impressive fashion Tuesday night winning a three-game, non-league victory on the road at Cascade.

Senior Jennifer Jansen led the way offensively and defensively for the Wildcats recording nine kills and three blocks, and senior Jessica Muzzall had seven kills.

Junior setter Melanie Cone had 23 assists as the Wildcats rolled over the Bruins 25-19, 25-16 and 25-18.

Danielle Love had eight kills for Cascade and teammate Katie Brush chipped in with four blocks.