Wildcats ride early leads to win over Mariner | Volleyball

Jumping to early leads in each game, the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team started the 2011 season with a 3-0 win over visiting Mariner Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The Wildcats spurted to leads of 5-1, 5-1 and 9-1 in three games and were rarely challenged by the Marauders on the way to a 25-8, 25-15, 25-15 sweep.

Four Mariner errors and an ace by Christina Alexander helped Oak Harbor jump its lead in game one. With help of a block and two kills by Roshel Muzzall, the 'Cats went up 14-6.

With Alexander serving, Oak Harbor finished the match on a 10-0 run. Three kills by Kayleigh Harper helped finish off the Marauders.

Kills by Harper, Muzzall and an ace by Janine DeGuzman pushed Oak Harbor to its early lead in game two.

Mariner fought back to 10-9, then a pair of kills from both Harper and Muzzall and another by Kelsey Rankin helped the Wildcats go up 19-12.

Two late kills by DeGuzman secured the game.

An ace and back-row kill from Alexander, a kill and block from Harper and a pair of aces from Amanda Pavey fueled Oak Harbor's early lead in game three.

Middle blocker Harper, a 6-2 sophomore, finished with nine kills and three aces. Outside hitters Muzzall and DeGuzman added seven kills. Taylor Nienhuis handed out 20 assists.

Defensively, Alexander had 13 digs and DeGuzman 10.

Coach Kerri Molitor said, "With those two back there, we get to a lot of balls."

Molitor said, "Overall we played well. We are figuring out what combinations work out for us, fitting those combinations together."

Molitor added that her club needs to work on its "consistency, reducing errors, not getting caught standing around and watching, and blocking."

Oak Harbor entertains Stanwood Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. and then heads to Yakima for the SunDome Tournament Saturday, Sept. 10.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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