The Oak Harbor High School volleyball team hopes this year starts like last year ended.

The Wildcats won only two of their first 12 matches in 2013, then things changed —-they started to win. Although they finished fifth in the Western Conference and entered the district tournament as the seventh seed, they stunned the field by placing second and earning a trip to the state tournament.

At state, the late-season run continued and Oak Harbor placed sixth, its best finish since taking fifth in 1988.

Gone through graduation is 6’3” scoring machine Kayleigh Harper, but the Wildcats return four starters and nine letter winners.

The veterans include seniors Hailey Beecher (setter), Amelia Berner (middle), Kaylee Lamb (right side), Aubrey Lock (outside hitter/defensive specialist) and Natalie McVey (setter); and juniors Claire Anderson (outside hitter), Geslynne Barreta (outside hitter), Priya Osborne (defensive specialist) and AnnaBelle Whitefoot (outside hitter).

Anderson earned all-league honorable mention honors in 2013.

Key newcomers are senior Daranee Soranthum (defensive specialist), junior Janae Payne (setter), sophomore Juliann Jansen (middle) and freshman Hailee Blau (right side), according to coach Kerri Molitor.

Without Harper, the Wildcats will be a different team this year but “very competitive,” Molitor said. “(We) are hungry for competition.

“We have a large number on the squad, and we are very flexible. We are deep … and the girls will be challenging each other daily. These can be strengths or weaknesses, depending on how the team reacts to the roles they are asked to play throughout the season. Our leadership is strong and our expectations are high.”

Unlike some Wesco sports, the 3A volleyball teams play in one 13-team league and not two divisions. Molitor called the league “tough” and said her team is looking forward to the competition.

Molitor cited “ourselves” as Oak Harbor’s greatest challenger for the league title. She hopes the lack of confidence and chemistry that plagued the team early last year can be overcome quickly this fall.

“They are working very hard to repeat the success we had at postseason,” Molitor said. “They believe in themselves and know that it takes the whole team to make it happen. I’m proud of the girls and look forward to seeing what is ahead of us.”

Oak Harbor hosts a six-team jamboree at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. The regular season begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, when the Wildcats travel to Ferndale for a rematch of the two teams that played for the district title last year.

Oak Harbor entertains Marysville-Pilchuck at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, in the opening league contest.