The Ocosta Wildcats volleyball team picked up a straight-set win on the road in Hoquiam to highlight Wednesday’s prep games.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Ocosta 3, Hoquiam 0
Ocosta handled several surges from Hoquiam as the Wildcats took the 3-0 victory against the Grizzlies in Hoquiam on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats (2-0 overall, 1-0 Pacific 2B) swept the games 26-24, 25-16 and 25-18 to secure their second victory of the year.
The Grizzlies (0-3) showed some fight in the first set and came back from down three points to tie the first frame at 23 apiece.
The first game of the match ended with an ace from Ocosta’s Lillian Barnum to help give her team the edge to start the evening.
Ocosta head coach Barbara Rasmus thought the offense was a little off-kilter in the first set, but said she saw things improve as the match went on.
“I felt like we passed a little better once we got started. In that first match I don’t feel like we passed really well, but in the second one we started to pass a little better,” she said. “It all starts with passing.”
Hoquiam had a lull in the second set as Ocosta held double-digit lead for much of the game.
Ocosta’s Hailey Jones, right, looks to block the shot of Hoquiam’s Carsyn Munger in the first set on Wednesday at Hoquiam High School. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)
With Ocosta’s shots beginning to find open spaces on the court, Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said her team wasn’t as decisive as it should have been at certain points in the contest.
“A lack of communication is always the biggest problem. We get hesitant and we stop moving with a purpose,” she said. “They kind of drift around the court so we’re really working on that. Our passing was so much better tonight, but we’ve got a ways to go.”
Hoquiam also had to juggle the line up prior to the match. The team’s regular libero, Hailey Lawerence, was out of action, allowing Gabi Reyes to step into the role. Reyes finished the night with eight digs.
Bozich also had praise for outside hitter Kamryn Krohn who played all the way around the court and impressed the coaching staff with her play in the back row.
Ocosta’s service game put a lot of pressure on Hoquiam’s back row, with the Wildcats keeping service error to a minimum. Evalyn Marsh had standout game in that regard, with 100 percent service on 22 serves to go along with her 15 digs.
The Wildcats pulled out the third set as well, but Hoquiam would not go down without a fight. Ocosta had a 11-5 lead at one point and the Grizzlies responded with a string of points that brought the score to 13-12.
Hoquiam’s attempt to push the match to four games would fall short, however, as Ocosta responded following a timeout and only allowed five more points the rest of the way.
Hoquiam’s Chloe Kennedy, goes for a kill in the third set while Ocosta’s Kiana Morrow jumps at the net to block on Wednesday a tHoquiam High School. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)
Though her team started the season 14-0 in the 2018 campaign, Rasmus said this year’s Ocosta team is stronger in some ways than the 2018 squad.
“I think we’re talking way more than we did last year. We have actually improved in that area a lot,” she said. “I also think we improved a lot in not getting down when we make mistakes. That was pretty hard last year sometimes.”
Ocoata will get back to its league schedule on Tuesday with a road match against South Bend at 7 p.m.
Hoquiam will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday with a home match against crosstown-rival Aberdeen.
Bozich said her team needs to be prepared for an energetic Bobcats team.
“(Aberdeen) has a couple of good hitters. They’re very young and I know they have some new players, so we just need to try to play our game and be ready for everything to come back because they are scrappy,” she said.
Ocosta 26 25 25 – 3
Hoquiam 24 16 18 – 0
Top Players: Ocosta – Marsh (15 digs, 100 percent serving), Layne Martin (10 kills, 9 digs), Emily Snider (20 assists); Hoquiam – Caryn Munger (9 kills), Maggie Mazariegos (23 assists), Reyes ( 8 digs)
Shelton 3, Aberdeen 0
The Aberdeen Bobcats are still searching for their first set victory after falling in straight sets for the third consecutive match to start the season, losing 3-0 to Shelton at home on Wednesday.
Aberdeen (0-3) lost 25-14, 25-15 and 25-18 to the 3A Highclimbers in a match where the Bobcats failed to show a consistent effort, according to head coach Doug Basler.
“We were sluggish to begin the game, but midway through the second set we picked up the energy and showed some signs of life,” he said. “We compete in spurts but then have some lapses of making silly errors and give away points. Shelton served well and we struggled passing, so we never got into a good rhythm offensively.”
Allye Troseth led Aberdeen with five kills and three aces. Kennedy Pruett had five blocks and Chantheda No played “great defense against a fairly high-powered team,” Basler said.
Aberdeen’s junior varsity team lost in two games to Shelton JV while the Bobcats’ C-squad moved to 3-0 on the season with a two-set victory.
The Bobcats set their sights on Myrtle Street rival Hoquiam in a match scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Hoquiam High School.
Shelton 25 25 25 — 3
Aberdeen 14 15 18 — 0
Top Players: Aberdeen —Troseth (5 kills, 3 aces); Pruett (5 blocks)
— Ryan Sparks, Grays Harbor News Group
Onalaska 3, Raymond 1
The Raymond Seagulls lost 3-1 to the Onalaska Loggers on Wednesday at Raymond High School in a game that was rescheduled from last week.
Raymond (1-2) got eight kills from Hannah Miller and six kills from Tina Sypaphay but struggled with their mindset, according to Seagulls head coach Bob Swogger.
“Right now, our bigges issue is staying out of our own heads,” he said after the 25-16, 25-14, 22-25, and 25-13 loss. “It is keeping us from reaching our full potential.”
Swogger added that after two straight 3-1 losses on consecutive nights, his team is better than what they have shown.
“Both losses this week have been frustrating because we are certainly capable of more,” he said.
Aside from the play of Miller and Sypaphay, Raymond received significant contributions from Izzy Silvernail, whom Swogger said “had a great night serving,” and freshman starter Caton Swogger, who had four kills and two blocks on the evening.
The Raymond JV squad won 25-14, 25-18 while the Seagulls’ C-squad won 25-10 and 25-5.
Raymond opens league play with a match against the Willipa Valley Vikings at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Willapa Valley High School.
Onalaska 25 25 22 25 — 3
Raymond 16 14 25 13 — 1
Top Players: Raymond — Miller (8 kills); Sypaphay (6 kills); Swogger (4 kills, 2 blocks)
— Ryan Sparks, Grays Harbor News Group
GIRLS PREP SOCCER
Ocosta 7, Ilwaco 0
The Ocosta Wildcats had a dominant home win over Ilwaco as Katelynn Denny scored a hat trick to sink the Fishermen 7-0 at Ocosta High School on Wednesday.
The Wildcats (2-1, 1-0 Pacific 2B) controlled the pace of play in their first league matchup of the season and didn’t allow a shot on target until the 38th minute.
Miki Ness got the scoring started for Ocosta with a goal off of a rebound in the 12th minute. Trinity White made it a 2-0 game in the 17th minute when her shot deflected off a defender.
Denny scored three times in the first 40 minutes to complete the hat trick before the halftime whistle.
Natalie Carloza was also impressive as she assisted on two of Denny’s first-half goals and added a goal of her own in the first minute of the second half.
The loss moved Ilwaco’s record to 1-3 on the season.
The Wildcats continue their league schedule with a home match against Adna at 5:15 p.m on Saturday.
Ocosta 5 2 – 7
Ilwaco 0 0 – 0
Top Players: Ocosta – Carloza (G, 41st minute, 3 assists), Denny (3 goals)
BOYS PREP TENNIS
Aberdeen 4, Black Hills 2
Aberdeen picked up its first 2A Evergreen League win of the season with a 4-2 victory over the Black Hills Wolves on Wednesday at Black Hills High School.
The Bobcats (2-2, 1-1 Evergreen 2A) got singles match wins from Ashdon Swope and Andrew Troeh and doubles match victories from the duo of Colby Miller and Carter Olson as well as Romeo Sanchez and Anthony Alexander.
“Ashdon Swope had a signature win today,” Bobcats head coach Andrew Duffy said of his No. 2 singles player. “He controlled the baseline and pushed his opponent around for a decisive win for the Cats.
Aberdeen hosts Centralia in a league matchup scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
Singles — John Schade (Black Hills) defeated Brice Kola (Aberdeen) 6-0, 6-1; Ashdon Swope (A) def. Ryan Cokl (BH) 6-1, 6-3; Andrew Troeh (A) def. Riley Browne (BH) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles — Louie Calvert/Josh Do (BH) def. Eric Eng / Colton Faulkner (A) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; Colby Miller/Carter Olsen (A) def. Evan Martinez/Kyle Lince (BH) 6-3, 6-2; Romeo Sanchez/Anthony Alexander (A) def. Koichi Fausuani/Vicent Lopez (BH) 6-3, 6-0
— Ryan Sparks, Grays Harbor News Group
