Monday’s prep roundup: Mountlake Terrace falls 3-1 to Oak Harbor in volleyball

Mountlake Terrace's Liya Ewing (center) watches from the back line as teammates Candace Disney (left) and Sophie Parson peek under the net during their match against Oak Harbor on Monday. (Photos by Doug Petrowski)
Mountlake Terrace’s Liya Ewing (center) watches from the back line as teammates Candace Disney (left) and Sophie Parson peek under the net during their match against Oak Harbor on Monday. (Photos by Doug Petrowski)

Playing some of its best volleyball of the season, Mountlake Terrace stayed close to Oak Harbor Monday night but ultimately succumbed to the visitors’ height and power, falling to the Wildcats 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-11, 25-21) in a Wesco 3A matchup at Mountlake Terrace High School.

With five players over 5-foot-7, the Wildcats were able to win many of the battles at the net, turning that advantage into a team victory. Oak Harbor tallied 23 kills compared to 17 for the Hawks and totaled five blocks to just two for Mountlake Terrace.

Mountlake Terrace's Lauren Miller extends for a block attempt at the net.
Mountlake Terrace’s Lauren Miller extends for a block attempt at the net.

With the teams tied 1-1 after two games, the Wildcats found their rhythm in the third game, jumping out to an 8-3 lead on their way to a 25-11 win. Mountlake Terrace fought back in the fourth game, pulling to within one point at 17-16. But Oak Harbor was too much for the young Hawks, winning the fourth game 25-21 and the match 3-1.

With the victory, Oak Harbor lifted their league record to 7-4, 7-6 overall. The Hawks are winless in 11 league tilts and 0-13 overall.

With the match being the home finale for the 2015 Hawks, the team used the occasion to honor the two seniors on the squad — Lauren Miller and Liya Ewing.

For Miller, the winless season hasn’t dampened her love and respect for her teammates. “It’s been rough but it’s been a good journey,” she said. “Playing with these girls for two or three years has been really nice. Everyone’s come along so far. We’ve worked really hard and even though we haven’t had the best record, we’ve really given it our all.”

Ewing stressed that despite the team’s record, relationships on the squad are tight. “We’re probably one of the closest teams that I’ve ever been on,” she said. “Even with the losses we’ve had we still stay connected. I think it just comes from us wanting that win so bad. That’s motivating us to get it.”

Ewing also expressed appreciation for her teammates’ work ethic, something that could have dropped off as the losses accrued this season, but didn’t. “The fact is we work hard, we train hard,” she said. “Our practices, they are always fun but we always try to drive and do better than the day before. Playing with them was a good experience.”

The Hawks have one more chance to get a win this year as they close their season on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Edmonds-Woodway High School against the Warriors.

In other prep sports on Monday, the first day of the 3A District 1 Boys Tennis Tournament got rained out. The tourney is now scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. at Jackson High School in Mill Creek. Mountlake Terrace’s Jeremy Ansdell is the South No. 1 singles’ seed and will face Everett’s Holden Fox in first round play; Hawks Adam Lorraine and Jakob Peters are the South No. 2 seed in doubles’ competition and are scheduled to take on Arlington’s Nicholas Mendro and Conner Guthrie in their first match.

Prep Volleyball: Oak Harbor at Mountlake Terrace, Oct. 26

Oak Harbor 3, Mountlake Terrace 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-11, 25-21)

Records: Mountlake Terrace 0-11 in Wesco 3A, 0-13 overall; Oak Harbor 7-4, 7-6

MTHS next match: vs. Edmonds-Woodway, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. at Edmonds-Woodway High School

Seniors Liya Ewing (left) and Lauren Miller played their final home match for Mountlake Terrace on Monday.
Seniors Liya Ewing (left) and Lauren Miller played their final home match for Mountlake Terrace on Monday.

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