The final score was 3-0, but the shutout win over visiting Lynnwood Thursday, Sept. 18, was not a cakewalk for the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team.

All three games were close, with two taking extra time, as the Wildcats edged the Royals 26-24, 27-25, 25-22 in the conference opener.

In the first game, Oak Harbor broke open a tight set to go up 19-12. Lynnwood (0-1, 0-3) rallied, evening the score at 21 and then advancing to game point at 24-23.

The Wildcats scored three straight, thanks to a Claire Anderson kill, a back row strike by Priya Osborne and a stuff block by Kaylee Lamb, to eke out the win.

Game two was close throughout, and coach Kerri Molitor said some of her team’s struggles came from trying a new rotation: “We were a little off.”

In game three, the Wildcats trailed 17-12 and then went on an 8-2 run, spurred by three kills by Geslyne Barreta, to lead 20-19.

Lynnwood recovered to go up 22-20, then Oak Harbor scored five straight for the win. A block by Hailee Blau and an ace by Daranee Sornthom fueled the strong finish.

Molitor said AnnaBelle Whitefoot “played well,” and that the team members are accomplishing “a few of their goals as we go along.”

Hailey Beecher had 22 assists and Natalie McVey 20, leading to 24 kills for Anderson.

McVey and Sornthom each added two aces.

Defensively, Whitefoot collected 10 digs and Anderson seven.

Oak Harbor (1-0, 1-2) goes to Arlington (1-0, 2-1) at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22.