Win over Everett gives Wildcats home district play-in match / Volleyball

After its second five-set win in two days, the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team is ready to enter the district tournament.

The Wildcats won 3-2 at Everett Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the regular-season finale. The victory was Oak Harbor’s fifth in the past six matches and set their final Wesco record at 7-5 (8-6 overall), tying Shorewood for sixth place.

Since Shorewood defeated Oak Harbor earlier in the season, the Thunderbirds will be the sixth seed into the district play-in round; Oak Harbor will be No. 7.

The win over Everett guaranteed the Wildcats would play at home in the play-in game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, but Oak Harbor drew a tough opponent, Squalicum, for the loser-out match.

The Storm are 10-3 this season and are ranked eighth in the state 3A pool. All three of Squalicum’s losses have come to ranked teams: Burlington-Edison, No. 1 in the 2A poll; Lynden Christian, No. 3 in the 1A poll; and Ferndale, No. 6 in the 3A poll.

The winner of the Oak Harbor-Squalicum match will advance to the eight-team, double-elimination portion of the tournament Tuesday, Oct. 31. The match will be at Snohomish or Stanwood, but the time and opponent depends on the outcome of the three play-in matches.

Oak Harbor 3, Everett 2 (25-18, 18-25, 15-25, 25-15, 15-7)

The two teams came into the match tied in the Wesco standings and knowing the winner would begin the playoffs at home.

The Wildcat fell in a 2-1 hole but fought back to win the final two sets and claim the match.

Hailee Blau blasted 21 kills and recorded three blocks; Cami Bristow had eight kills and 13 digs; and Samantha Hines had nine kills and 12 digs.