Oak Harbor wins wild one with Shorecrest / Volleyball

By Jim Waller • September 20, 2019 1:30 am

It was a slog, but it was a win.

Despite an inconsistent defense and a sputtering offense, the Oak Harbor High School volleyball team outlasted visiting Shorecrest 3-1 Thursday, Sept. 19.

Oak Harbor coach Kerri Molitor admitted that her club couldn’t find any rhythm in the match, but noted that “Shorecrest is a good team” and caused much of the Wildcats’ uneven play.

The Scots’ serving had Oak Harbor scrambling, and their height (five players 5-11 or taller) affected the Wildcats’ attack.

Oak Harbor won 24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 26-24.

“We didn’t meet our goals tonight,” Molitor said. “We will re-set and move forward.”

The step forward will be challenge. Oak Harbor (3-0) plays in the 32-team Kent Classic Volleyball Tournament Saturday, Sept. 21, at Kentwood High School. The field is filled with state-qualifying teams.

The next Wesco action is at Lynnwood (1-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, then Oak Harbor hosts Edmonds-Woodway (2-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.

The Wildcats jumped to a 6-2 lead in the first game with Shorecrest, but the Scots took the lead 10-9 and never trailed until late.

Down 23-20, Oak Harbor rallied to set point, 24-23, then the Scots recovered to pull out the game.

Shorecrest kept the momentum in the second set, zipping to a 5-0 lead. Oak Harbor battled back to go up 11-10. From there, neither team led by more than two until the Wildcats broke a 21-21 tie to lead 24-21. A kill by Leielle Salinger sealed the win.

The third game was close throughout, as each team had only one 3-point lead until the Wildcats added a second with the final point.

The fourth set was another seesaw battle. Shorecrest’s biggest lead came late, 23-20, then Oak Harbor rattled off four straight points with the help of an ace from Salinger, a kill from Payton Parks and two kills from Morgan Pease.

The Scots evened the set at 24-24, then a block by Parks and a kill from Pease cemented the win for the Wildcats.

Pease paced Oak Harbor with 23 kills and 24 digs. Salinger had 10 kills, 12 digs and three aces; Parks finished with nine kills, two blocks and two aces; Annie Salinger collected 44 assists and 11 digs; and Jaslin Webster had 18 digs.