Volleyball: Wildcats wrap up playoff spot with win over Royals

The Oak Harbor High School volleyball team guaranteed itself a spot in the playoffs with a 3-1 win over visiting Lynnwood Thursday, Oct. 21.

The Oak Harbor High School volleyball team guaranteed itself a spot in the playoffs with a 3-1 win over visiting Lynnwood Thursday, Oct. 21.

Although the Wildcats wrapped up a playoff spot, there is more work to be done. Oak Harbor and Glacier Peak are the two host schools for the first round of district play. However, if the two schools end up in the same bracket, only the higher seed will play at home.

Oak Harbor, at 5-3 in Wesco play, is currently a game up on the 4-4 Grizzlies. The two teams meet in Oak Harbor Monday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. in the next to last league match.

In the win over Lynnwood, Oak Harbor took the contest 25-19, 25-18, 24-26, 25-20.

In games one and two, the Wildcats steadily pulled ahead to secure the wins. In game three, the ‘Cats were down 3-7 and rallied to tie it at 14-all. Oak Harbor eventually went ahead 17-14. Once the Royals evened it up at 17-17, no team led by more than one until Lynnwood took the game’s final two points.

Game four was close until Oak Harbor went up 20-16. Kills by Roshel Muzzall, Amanda Blau, Kristine Bouchard and Janessa Ramos helped put the game and match away.

Blau led the offense with 10 kills, while Muzzall, Bouchard and Ramos added eight each. Muzzall fired five aces, and Bouchard recorded five stuff blocks.

Jordan Faralan handed out 34 assists.

Apol Thomaier propelled the Royal (2-6, 4-6) offense with 17 kills.

After Oak Harbor’s (5-3, 8-4) match up with Glacier Peak (4-4, 5-7) Monday, it travels to Everett (5-3, 8-4) Wednesday, Oct. 27, to conclude conference play.

The district tournament begins Monday, Nov. 1.