Prep Volleyball Roundup: Ocosta honors coaching legend ahead of loss to Forks

Also: Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano pick up wins

By Ryan Sparks • September 29, 2023 4:00 pm
SUBMITTED PHOTO Ocosta honored legendary former head coach Betty Harrow, middle, at a ceremony ahead of the Forks-Ocosta game on Thursday in Westport. Harrow is flanked by former head coach Barbara Rasmus, left, and current head coach Erin Snider, representing the entirety of head volleyball coaches in the school’s history.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Ocosta honored legendary former head coach Betty Harrow, middle, at a ceremony ahead of the Forks-Ocosta game on Thursday in Westport. Harrow is flanked by former head coach Barbara Rasmus, left, and current head coach Erin Snider, representing the entirety of head volleyball coaches in the school’s history.

The Ocosta Wildcats have had just three volleyball coaches dating back to the program’s inception. They recently honored one of those coaches as we review how Twin Harbors prep volleyball teams fared on Thursday.

GIRLS PREP VOLLEYBALL

Ocosta honors coaching pioneer Betty Harrow

Ocosta lost to Forks 3-1 on Thursday, but the game arguably took a backseat to the festivities happening in Westport.

The Wildcats honored Betty Harrow, the legendary former Ocosta head coach credited with starting the school’s girls sports programs.

“Betty was instrumental in developing young women’s sports in the late 1960’s,” Ocosta head coach Erin Snider said. “Betty coached for 27 years and is loved by so many. … She set the foundation for what we have today.

Harrow was honored at a ceremony ahead of the varsity game and joined by her successor – fellow legendary Ocosta coach Barbara Rasmus – Snider and several former players.

“We are giving her this night as a thank you from all female athletes at Ocosta who have benefited from her commitment to making it happen for us all,” a promotional flyer read. “The contributions she made to female athletics, during a time when equality was not a reality, is extraordinary.”

As for the game, Ocosta (6-3 overall, 3-2 2B Pacific) missed an opportunity to gain sole possession of second place in the 2B Pacific League with the loss.

Forks (5-2, 3-1) won 25-14, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-20.

Samantha Schlegel had 12 kills for Ocosta while Brynn Rasmus (18 assists) and Noel Cuzdey (29 digs) also played well for the Wildcats.

Ocosta plays at league-leading Raymond-South Bend at 7 p.m. Thursday at South Bend High School.

Forks 25 25 22 25 – 3

Ocosta 14 17 25 20 – 1

Aberdeen 3, Shelton 0

Aberdeen earned a key league victory with a straight-set win over Shelton on Thursday in Aberdeen.

The Bobcats (6-2, 3-2 2A Evergreen) got a game-high 14 kills from Annika Hollingsworth and 33 assists from Cameryn Micheau in the 25-15, 25-17 and 25-21 victory.

“We played well together tonight,” Aberdeen head coach Desiree Glanz said. “Great communication and trust between each other. Serve-receive was excellent and coverage was strong. Our hitters hit hard and played smart at the net.”

With the win, Aberdeen sits in a tie for third place with Centralia, one game behind Black Hills in the league standings.

The Bobcats play at Centralia at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Shelton 15 17 21 – 0

Aberdeen 25 25 25 – 3

Leading players: Aberdeen – Hollingsworth (14 kills); Camp (7 kills, 14-15 service, 4 aces); Micheau (33 assists); Knutson (9 digs); Strickland (5 kills); Patrick (5 kills).

Hoquiam 3, North Beach 0

Hoquiam defeated its third-consecutive Twin Harbors opponent with a straight-set win over North Beach on Thursday in Hoquiam.

The Grizzlies (5-3) won the non-league matchup 25-11, 25-17 and 25-14.

Katlyn Brodhead had 24 assists and 15 digs to lead Hoquiam. The junior setter had a 14 point service streak in the third and final set to help put away the Hyaks (3-5).

Kristina Goulet (11 kills) and Leighann Bratt (10 kills) each recorded double-digit kills for the Grizzlies.

“We started off really strong in the first set and finished it out strong. In the second and third sets, we had a couple lapses in focus but we were able to reign it back in and finish the match tough,” Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said. “I have to give North Beach a lot of credit for how tough they are defensively, so this was a good with for us.”

Hoquiam resumes league play against Eatonville at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Eatonville High School.

North Beach hosts Morton-White Pass at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

North Beach 11 17 14 – 0

Hoquiam 25 25 25 – 3

Leading players: Hoquiam – Brodhead (24 assists, 15 digs); LaBounty (16 digs); Prosch (8 kills, 10 digs); Goulet (11 kills); Bratt (10 kills).

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Karissa Otterstetter (5) puts up a set during a straight-set win over Eatonville on Thursday in Montesano.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Karissa Otterstetter (5) puts up a set during a straight-set win over Eatonville on Thursday in Montesano.

Montesano 3, Eatonville 0

Montesano cruised to a straight-set victory over Eatonville on Thursday at Montesano High School.

The Bulldogs (3-6, 2-0 1A Evergreen) won by scores of 25-8, 25-9 and 25-9.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano middle blocker Kylee Wisdom (9) goes up for a kill against Eatonville on Thursday at Montesano High School.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano middle blocker Kylee Wisdom (9) goes up for a kill against Eatonville on Thursday at Montesano High School.

“The girls played great tonight,” Monte head coach Cindy Wecker said. “Sometimes it is hard to keep up the energy when you have such a commanding lead, but the girls did a great job of that tonight and had fun doing it.”

Monte was led by junior outside hitter Kalia Hatton (8 kills, 11 aces), junior middle blocker Kylee Wisdom (12 kills) and junior setter Karissa Otterstetter (20 assists, 2 aces).

The Bulldogs play at Elma at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Eatonville 8 9 9 – 0

Montesano 25 25 25 – 3

Leading players: Montesano – Hatton (8 kills, 11 aces); Wisdom (12 kills); Robinson (5 kills); Otterstetter (20 assists, 2 aces, kill).

Other games

Tenino 3, Elma 0