With a shuffled lineup, the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team dealt visiting Glacier Peak a 3-0 loss Thursday, Oct. 10.

After a series of frustrating losses and shaky defensive performances, Wildcat coach Kerri Molitor made a few changes and the results were positive. Oak Harbor thumped the Grizzlies 25-13, 25-14, 25-16.

Junior Natalie McVey made her first start as the libero and responded with a team-high 10 digs.

Molitor said, “Natalie did awesome; she did a great job on defense.”

Molitor was as pleased with Aubrey Lock’s attitude as McVey’s play. Originally Molitor played to rotate the two, but McVey was playing well so Molitor stuck with her.

Lock was supportive of McVey, Molitor said, and was “a great, unselfish teammate.”

Molitor also lauded Deanna Ruben’s effort, switching from libero to right-side defensive specialist.

Passing has been a concern all year, and the Wildcats improved against Glacier Peak.

“The girls were anticipating a little more, so our defense perked up a little,” Molitor said. “Claire (Anderson) did a great job passing.”

Oak Harbor jumped to a 5-0 lead behind Hailey Beecher’s serving in game one, then secured the set a few points later on a 7-0 run with AnnaBelle Whitefoot serving.

In game two, Oak Harbor pulled away from an 11-11 tie with a 10-1 run.

Up 20-16 in the third game, the Wildcats finished off the Grizzlies (1-3, 2-7) with the help of a kill and ace by Kayleigh Harper, a kill by Makenna Martyn and an ace from Ruben.

Harper rapped 12 kills on the night, and Anderson added nine along with nine digs.

Beecher finished with 30 assists and five aces.

Oak Harbor (2-2, 2-7) plays in the Wenatchee Invitational at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, then returns to Wesco action at Meadowdale (4-0, 7-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15.