MARYSVILLE — Entering the postseason, the Oak Harbor volleyball team had lost all four five-set matches it played.
The Wildcats have now won two five-setters in a row in the postseason, and are a win away from reaching the 3A state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Claire Anderson recorded 38 kills, the best single-match total in Oak Harbor coach Kerri Molitor’s 14-year tenure at the school, to lead the Wildcats past Arlington on Thursday in the District 1 3A tournament.
“Claire is a powerful hitter, but she scored quite a few of her points tonight on off-speed shots,” Molitor said. “She plays aggressively, and like Babe Ruth not being afraid to strike out, she’s not afraid to make an error. She led us in errors tonight, but she shakes it off and keeps herself in the game.”
Oak Harbor won the first, third and fifth sets on Thursday, and kept its poise when things didn’t go its way.
“We had some definite ups and downs in the match, and at this level the other teams capitalize on your mistakes,” Molitor said. “When we clean up the mistakes and unforced errors, we can outlast teams.”
Freshman Hailee Blau added 8½ blocks and 13 kills for the Wildcats.
At Marysville Pilchuck H.S.
Oak Harbor2521252415—3
Arlington172521269—2
Highlights—Oak Harbor: Claire Anderson, 38 kills, 19 digs; Hailee Blau, 8.5 blocks, 13 kills; Hailey Beecher, 33 assists; Natalie McVey, 28 assists, three aces; Priya Osborne, 17 digs; Geslyne Barreta, 12 digs. Arlington: not reported. Records—Oak Harbor 11-6 overall. Arlington 11-6.
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