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.

VB 2011-09-06 vs Mariner

The OHHS volleyball teams, Freshman, JV and Varsity all won on the opening night of the 2011 season in a nonleague match against 4A Mariner.

The freshman team won their first game 25-17, lost the second 23-25, then came from behind to grab game 3 25-21 in an exciting finish.

After sprinting to an early 6-1 lead behind 3 service aces by Deanna Ruben, the Wildcats had a few errors and let the Marauders back in the game but never gave up the lead, holding on to win 25-20 on a service ace by Ashley Johnston. The girls regrouped and started game 2 on a 9-0 run then took a 15-3 lead after a service ace by Hannah Christensen. Peyton Craven scored game point, 25-15. In game 3, Coach Swankie experimented a bit with his lineup and Mariner was able to grab an early 4-1 lead, but three points in a row by Olivia Hunt put the Wildcats up 10-7. Mariner fought back, regaining the lead 14-13 then extended it to 20-14. Oak Harbor got to within 3 points, 21-18, but Mariner was able to hang on for a 24-20 win, but the JV girls won the match 2-1.

In varsity action, Christina Alexander served the team to an early 4-1 lead and that's as close as it would get as the Wildcats dominated the game 25-8. Game 2 was similar, with OH leading 5-1 early. Mariner kept it close, but 4 straight Wildcat points, two by Janine DeGuzman, ended game 2 with a 25-14 Wildcat win. Oak Harbor turned up the heat even more early in the 3rd game, leading 6-0 before Mariner could get a point, then extending the lead to 11-2. OH would again go on to win the game, this one by a score of 25-15.

The girls are in action again tonight, September 8th in another non-league match at OHHS vs Stanwood.


Video highlight clips are HERE

133 photos are posted HERE.

Volleyball 2010-10-12 vs Shorecrest

The Wildcat volleyball team faced the Shorecrest Scots for the 2nd time this year, this time at OHHS. The first meeting, a non-league match, was at Shorecrest and the varsity team defeated the team picked to finish 1st in WESCO 3A 3-2.

In the rematch, this one counting for league standings, the Wildcats jumped to an early 14-9 lead, but let the Scots back in the game, and even gave them a 16-15 lead. Then a big kill by big Amanda Blau sparked OH and the two team fought back and forth. A OH service error gave game point to Shorecrest, but Kristine Bouchard tied the game at 24, a pass error by Shorecrest gave game point to the Wildcats, then a double block of Blau and Bouchard was not handled by Shorecrest, giving game 1 to Oak Harbor 26-24.

In contrast, nothing seemed to go right for Oak Harbor in game 2. Halfway through the game, the Wildcats were down by only 1 point, 11-12, but scored only 3 more as Shorecrest won 25-14.

Game 3 was exciting and close. OH led for the whole game, but never by much. A service ace by Christina Alexander followed by a Janessa Ramos kill gave the Wildcats their biggest lead, 23-18, but the Scots didn't give up, closing to 24-22 when Mandy Kepner smacked her first kill of the game for game point.

While game 3 was exciting, game 4 was just a pleasure to watch. Before anyone knew what was really happening, the Wildcats found themselves ahead 6-0, forcing a Scot timeout. Oak Harbor score 4 more after the T.O. to lead 10-0. Oak Harbor made their first error at this point, sending the serve into the net to make the score 10-1, at that's as close as it would get as the Scots spent the rest of the game completely confused and having no answer for the Wildcat attack. When it was all over, the Wildcats were 25-8 winners and won the match 3-1.

Next up are the Shorewood Thunderbirds. The T-birds are right behind the Wildcats in the standings with equal 3-2 league records. The Wildcats are ahead due to their 6-3 overall record.

Video highlight clips of JV and Varsity action are posted HERE.

131 JV and Freshman warmup and game photos are posted HERE.

Click HERE to view and order Varsity photos.