VB 2011-09-08 vs Stanwood

If you were a paying fan at Thursday's volleyball match at OHHS vs Stanwood, you sure got your money's worth.

Starting over in the dome, the Freshman team won the first two games 25-22, 25-18, but fell in the third with a mixed lineup, 14-25.

In the main gym, the JV team took a commanding 19-11 lead in game one, scoring on two service aces by Stephanie Milliron and one by Deanna Ruben, and kills by Olivia Hunt and Hannah Christensen. They won the first game 25-18. Oak Harbor stumbled early in the second, spotting the Spartans a 7-13 lead, but tied things up at 19 on a Tiffany Kepner service ace. The score was back and forth until a pair of kills by Peyton Craven and a service ace by Ashley Johnston gave the Wildcats match point, 24-22. Unfortunately, Stanwood wasn't ready to give up and scored 4 straight to take game two 26-24. With the match tied at 1 game each, the 3rd game started sluggishly, with neither team playing spirited ball. Oak Harbor finally pulled away, leading 10-7 and increasing the lead to 24-12 and needing only one point to put the match away. Again, Stanwood wasn't ready to go away and scored 12 straight points to tie the match at 24. In the extra points, the game was either tied or OH had the advantage, but couldn't get it put away. Finally, with the score at 27-26, Christensen was able to hit through the Spartan block for match point. Game 3 to the Wildcats 28-26.

The varsity match was just as exciting. In the first game Stanwood took an early 10-5 lead and never let up, dominating the Wildcats 25-11. Oak Harbor took an 8-3 lead in game 2 after a solo block by Kelsey Rankin then a Roshel Muzzall kill made it 9-4. The Wildcats never looked back and were at game point, 24-16 when Muzzall hit a hard serve that to everyone in the gym looked in, including the corner line judge, but the official overruled the judge and awarded the point to Stanwood. Game 2 ended 25-17 in favor of OH with another Rankin block. Oak Harbor led through most of game 3, but Stanwood stayed with us and tied the game at 19, then went on a 6-2 run to win the game 25-21.

Game 4. Wow. Neither team led by more than 3 points throughout the game, which was tied no less that 3 times early, and again late, 24-24. This is when it got really exciting. Stanwood held match point 3 times until the Wildcats scored, then held game point 27-26 after a double block by Rankin and Hannah Salmons. Stanwood hung on and had match point another 3 times before OH was able to grab it back 31-30. OH had another game point 32-31 after Janine DeGuzman hit a cross shot, but Stanwood still stayed in it. Finally, a kills by Kayleigh Harper and Muzzall put it away, Oak Harbor winning 34-32 and tying the match at 2 games each.

In the fifth and deciding game, both teams were showing their fatigue but Stanwood was able to capitalize on the Wildcat errors, taking an early lead and holding it throughout, winning 15-11 and taking the match 3-2.

A total of 162 photos of all 3 teams, plus several pre-season team photos, are posted HERE.

JV video highlights are HERE.

Varsity video highlights are posted HERE.