“Our fuel gauge was on empty,” Oak Harbor High School volleyball coach Kerri Molitor said when the Wildcats lost to Ferndale 3-0 in the district tournament at Marysville-Pilchuck High School Saturday, Nov. 7.

The loss came after the Wildcats won an energy-zapping 3-2 match over Glacier Peak earlier in the day and after two other high-stress 3-2 matches earlier in the week.

Oak Harbor upset third-seeded Lynnwood Tuesday and fell to second-seeded Stanwood Thursday.

Unbeaten and top-seeded Shorewood beat Stanwood 3-1 for the district crown Saturday.

The Wildcat loss enabled Ferndale, whose previous district contests ended in scores of 3-0, 0-3, 3-1, to claim third place and the final District 1 berth into the state tournament. It was the second year in a row the Golden Eagles (15-3) topped the Wildcats (9-9) in the third-place match.

Ferndale also defeated Oak Harbor in the district title match in 2013.

Oak Harbor, the sixth-seed, earned the right to play Ferndale, the fourth seed, for third place this year with a thrilling 21-25, 25-19, 26-28, 25-21, 15-13 win over fifth-seeded Glacier Peak Saturday morning.

Claire Anderson powered the attack with 29 kills; Hailee Blau blasted 17.

Janae Payne finished with 53 assists, two kills, an ace, a block and 10 digs.

On defense, Blau and Julie Jansen put up 3.5 blocks, Anderson had 2.5 and Annabelle Whitefoot 1.5.

Whitefoot also had 16 digs, Geslyne Barreta 15 and Anderson 10.

Ferndale, from the Northwest Conference, has now defeated Oak Harbor in six consecutive matches, including Saturday’s 25-16, 25-17, 25-15 win.

Anderson guided the Wildcats with nine kills, four blocks and 10 digs. Payne registered 18 assists and nine digs.