Red Raiders were showing mid-season form. LIHU’E – The high school volleyball season is still 29 days away. Which puts Kaua’i girls coach Richard Roberts in an enviable position. Monday night, his Red Raiders unseated a talented team from Laguna
Red Raiders were showing mid-season form.
LIHU’E – The high school volleyball season is still 29 days away.
Which puts Kaua’i girls coach Richard Roberts in an enviable position.
Monday night, his Red Raiders unseated a talented team from Laguna Beach, Calif., 12-15, 15-9, 16-14, 15-5 in an informal scrimmage.
Informal only because the match was played on a side court at the Kaua’i Gym and because the season is not officially in session. Otherwise, play was as intense as any in the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation.
And the Red Raiders were showing mid-season form.
Playing without the reigning KIF MVP, Tiana Lum-Tucker, Kaua’i displayed the endurance, hustle and communication skill of a team ready for league play.
Laguna Beach sported a host of big, quick players and a gifted setter, Leanne Kubisak. The team is fresh off a middle-of-the-pack finish at the 24-team Iolani tournament last week.
But the Artists could do little to rattle the Kaua’i defense. Though strong all around, Ashley Nagaoka and Courtney Doliente were especially stingy along the back row, digging Laguna Beach’s kills consistently.
Neither, however, were quite as impressive as senior Kehaulani Regidor. Whether smashing balls at the Artists’ defense or saving rallys with body-extended digs, Regidor did everything well Monday night.
“We get different looks from a Mainland team,” Roberts said. “It’s good to have them here.”
Laguna Beach will at Waimea Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, it will be back at Kaua’i for a small round-robin tourney with Kaua’i and Kapa ‘a.
