LACEY — Southridge, the state’s top-ranked 3A team, swept Oak Harbor in Friday’s 3A state quarterfinal match by set scores of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-16.
Kayleigh Harper finished with 12 kills, Claire Anderson had 13 digs and Hailey Beecher added 24 assists for the Wildcats.
After a sub-.500 regular season, Oak Harbor began its run to state in the 3A district tournament. The Wildcats defeated Meadowdale in the first round and ultimately advancing to the championship match, losing to Ferndale.
“I’ve always said from the beginning that if we could just get into districts then we would have a shot,” Oak Harbor head coach Kerri Molitor said.
The Wildcats used that momentum to help them to a 3-2 win over Eastside Catholic in the first round of the state tournament on Friday.
“We had a rocky season,” Molitor said. “Things didn’t turn out always like we would have liked them to and they just kept with it. They stuck with it.”
Molitor hoped that the loss to the Suns would be a motivator for her team that has just two seniors.
“Southridge is good,” Molitor said. “For the girls, I would like them to take that that’s where we want to be. That’s the speed and the pace of the game that we need to be at.”
In the first round, Kayleigh Harper had 25 kills, eight digs and six blocks to lead Oak Harbor to a five-set victory over Eastside Catholic. Set scores were 27-25, 25-23, 14-25, 16-25 and 15-10. Hailey Beacher had 41 assists, Claire Anderson had eight kills and Amelia Berner added eight kills and four aces helping the Wildcats advance to the quarterfinals.
At Saint Martin’s University
Oak Harbor121416—0
Southridge252525—3
Highlights—Oak Harbor: Kayleigh Harper 12 kills; Claire Anderson 13 digs; Hailey Beecher 24 assists. Southridge: Not reported. Records—Oak Harbor 7-11 overall. Southridge 16-0.
At Saint Martin’s University
Oak Harbor2725141615—3
Eastside Catholic2523252510—2
Highlights—Oak Harbor: Beecher 41 assists; Anderson 8 kills; Amelia Berner 8 kills, 4 aces. Eastside Catholic: Not reported. Records—Oak Harbor 7-11 overall. Eastside Catholic 18-5.
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