LIHUE — The Red Raider boys won at home to stay within one game of the second round lead with one match left in the regular season.
Kauai High School’s varsity boys volleyball team defeated Island School in straight sets Tuesday evening — 25-17, 25-14 and 25-12.
“We executed a plan, and we wanted to try as much as possible to keep to the plan,” said Kauai head coach Enoch A’ana. “Even though, yes tonight was an important game, we just want to be prepared in all aspects. So I told the boys to come in today and not let down. We just have to play hard and keep focused.”
Kauai (7-4 KIF, 4-1 2nd round) trailed, 16-13, in the opening period before going on a 12-1 run to win the set. Red Raiders sophomore middle Keane Tibon hit two aces, and junior outside hitter Kaimani Tecson hit one ace during that late run.
Late in the third set, Red Raiders junior setter Joshua Garcia hit back-to-back aces en route to winning the set by double digits to clinch the home win and stay in contention of the second round.
“Honestly, I thought we started pretty slow in the beginning. But we started gelling together,” said Red Raiders senior setter Seth Bautista. “Every time we sync, when we say, ‘Hey, one-two,’ that’s when we all clap together and make sure we’re all on the same page. I think our communication really pulled through today.”
Island School (0-11 KIF, 0-5 2nd round) played up-and-up with Kauai High throughout the first set. Voyagers senior outside hitter Reece Valencia hit a kill to give Island a 10-9 lead.
“Tonight’s match was a little bit of a rough patch,” said Island School head coach Kylie Silva. “We had one player out. My middle, Luke Reynolds, was out today. So, we had to move people around the last minute. So, it was a rough patch for us, but the boys did what they could being thrown a curveball. They did the best they could, and I couldn’t ask for nothing less.”
Silva said Reynolds couldn’t make Tuesday’s match because he and his family are stranded on the North Shore because of the heavy downpour.
“He was pretty much stuck and couldn’t make it,” Silva said. “They’re OK. I made sure all the boys are OK because I got a few boys living on that side. Had to make sure everyone’s OK. … It’s rough, but like I said, the boys did what they could. They fought. They played, and that’s all I can ask from them.”
Tecson totaled 11 kills, a block, an ace and a couple of assists for Kauai. Bautista had 14 assists and two kills. Garcia had 14 assists, five kills and three aces.
Tibon had five aces and two kills. Red Raiders junior outside hitter Joshua Rivera had six kills and a dig.
Valencia had four kills for Island School. Voyagers sophomore outside hitter Kieren Mitchell had six kills and a dig . Junior middle Aidan Offley had two kills, two blocks and an ace. Senior setter Ryan Yavinsky had 11 assists, a kill, an ace and three digs.
Kauai also won the junior varsity match against Island School — 25-8, 25-9 and 25-7.
Kauai will host Kapaa (10-1 KIF, 5-0 2nd round), and Island will host Waimea (5-6 KIF, 1-4 2nd round) to conclude the Kauai Interscholastic Federation regular season. The JV matches will begin 5 p.m. and the varsity will follow.
If Kauai wins against Kapaa on Friday, both Kauai and Kapaa will have 5-1 records in the second round and a playoff game will be played at a date and location to be determined.
If Kapaa wins Friday, Kapaa will have clinched both of the season’s rounds to win a third consecutive KIF championship.
“It’s a huge night on Friday, but we weren’t focused on Friday because we had to get past tonight,” A’ana said. “In the locker room, we all now know tomorrow and Thursday is going to be a key workout. Yes, Friday is going to be a very important game.
“We’ve been close twice. We went five sets with them twice this season. I just hope for a great game on Friday. No matter the outcome, I know the boys will give their 110 percent. Being it’s our senior night for our only senior, they’re going to go out banging.”
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Nick Celario can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
