LIHUE — Kauai High School’s varsity boys volleyball team defeated Waimea High School, 3-1, Friday evening in Lihue.
“First of all, we were ahead in that first set — by a lot. I always say that you cannot give Waimea any benefit of the doubt,” said Kauai head coach Enoch A’ana. “They’re a really scrappy team. They’re really good on defense. I think they have one of the best defenses in the league, honestly. I always tell them that they can’t underestimate that because defense wins games. Everybody knows that.”
After losing the first set, Kauai High (2-2 KIF) won the next three sets — 26-24, 25-23 and 25-18.
Red Raiders junior outside hitter Joshua Rivera scored back-to-back kills to win the fourth set and clinch the home win.
“Communication was key on the court. We play as one, and we had our chemistry,” Rivera said. “Everything was just going smooth. Our setters just had to play a little smarter. Our new lineup was great. It worked perfectly.”
A’ana added: “Did we grow? Yes, absolutely. Do we have a lot of work (ahead of us)? Absolutely, and the boys recognize it. This year, it’s really different. In the huddles, they’re telling us, ‘Coach, we know we to work harder.’ They’re not taking everything for granted. Even this win, even though it’s a W for them, I said, ‘Do you guys want to practice tomorrow?’ They were like, ‘Yes. 10 o’clock tomorrow.’”
Though Kauai won to bounce back from a loss earlier in the week, A’ana said the win wasn’t a totally satisfying.
“I told (Waimea head coach Alton Shimatsu) that I felt really bad for both teams. All I’m going to say is that the (refereeing) could have been a little bit better on both sides,” A’ana said. “I kept telling the boys that you got to play your game. … I’m really proud that they were able to pull it out and really play their game.”
Waimea (3-1 KIF) won the opening set, 25-20.
Menehune senior POS Jacob Delos Reyes scored the winning point in the set.
Shimatsu was not available for comment following the match Friday.
Rivera scored a game-high 25 kills and also had five digs and an ace for Kauai.
“It’s not the end. We just go to keep pushing forward and keep our mindset on top, and we just can’t let down,” Rivera said.
Red Raiders junior outside hitter Kaimani Tecson had 20 kills and three digs. Junior setter Joshua Garcia had 24 assists, four kills and two aces. Senior setter Seth Bautista had 20 assists, three digs and an ace.
Delos Reyes had 11 kills, three digs and an ace for Waimea. Senior DJ Pabre had seven kills, four digs and an ace. Senior Jhanelmar Cadiz had seven kills.
Menehune senior Regis Lomongo had four kills, six assists and an ace. Senior Kaimi Lau-San Agustin had five kills and two digs. Junior Shayne Simbre-Medeiros had two kills, seven assists and two digs.
Kauai also won the junior varsity match, 2-1 — 25-12, 22-25 and 25-15.
In the night’s other varsity match, Kapaa High School defeated Island School in straight sets at home — 25-12, 25-15 and 25-21. The Warriors also won the JV match against the Voyagers — 25-4, 25-8, and 25-10.
Kauai will play at Island School, and Waimea will host Kapaa on Tuesday. JV matches will begin 5 p.m. and the varsity will follow.
