Experience won’t be a problem for the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team as it heads into the 2010 season.

Coach Kerri Molitor welcomes back 10 letter winners, including seven seniors.

The group is led by senior libero Kelsey Terrazas-Cooley, the heart and soul of the Wildcat defense, and senior outside hitter Katelyn Bristow who was all-Wesco honorable mention in 2010. Terrazas-Cooley, although just a junior last year, was one of the team’s 2009 captains.

Other seniors are setter Jordan Faralan, outside hitter Janessa Ramos, middle hitters Amanda Blau and Kristine Bouchard and right side/setter Mandy Kepner.

Molitor said Faralan is stepping into the all-important setting spot “like a veteran player.” She added, “She is confident and is setting up our offense very well.”

Junior defensive specialist Christina Alexander, junior outside hitter Janine DeGuzman and sophomore outside/middle hitter Roshel Muzzall also return.

Molitor said, “We are a really tight group. They work really hard and have a ton of fight in them.”

She called the Wildcats’ defense and heart as the team’s strengths, and said, “The team supports each other while challenging each other to become better.”

Oak Harbor switches from the Western Conference North division to the Wesco 3A division this fall. The move makes the season a bit of a mystery for Molitor: “I’m not sure what the league will look like, but I know the 3A teams have traditionally been tough. Every match will be a fight.

“Until we actually play it (in 3A), I don’t know what to think about it. I am excited to start playing and see what happens.”

Oak Harbor hosts a jamboree here Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday the Wildcats go to Mariner for a nonleague match beginning at 7 p.m. Its first home match is Thursday, Sept. 16, with Lake Stevens at 7 p.m.

Last year the Wildcats went 1-7 in Wesco play and 3-11 overall.