Waimea Menehunes celebrate after capturing the KIF title. If you couldn’t leave the television during the ninth inning of last night’s World Series game or just wanted to get an early start on Halloween festivities, you probably missed out on
Waimea Menehunes celebrate after capturing the KIF title.
If you couldn’t leave the television during the ninth inning of last night’s World Series game or just wanted to get an early start on Halloween festivities, you probably missed out on the incredible KIF volleyball game that went down at Kaua’i’s gym last night.
If this was you, you also missed watching the Waimea Menehunes celebrate after capturing the KIF title.
As expected, the match up was tight from the very first sound of the whistle.
Waimea pulled out to a quick 3-1 lead on two Jerrick Barcelona (5 kills, 1 block) kills. The two-point lead was eventually matched after a crucial side-out kill and ace by Kaua’i’s Aukai Dennis (3 kills, 1 ace, 1 block), who tied the game at five apiece.
A see-saw battle ensued.
Kaua’i led throughout much of the first game, but only by a slender one-or-two-point margin. It wasn’t enough of a cushion. Not when your up against a chip-from-behind Menehune assault.
Waimea tied the first game at 13 apiece on a Scott Rivera (8 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces) kill and eventually took the lead after an emphatic slam by Darwin Tutop (4 kills, 1 ace). After the clock ticked to 0, the Menehunes sealed game 1 with an ace that finished it with a score of 15-13.
The Red Raiders weren’t ready to roll over and call it a season. They opened up an early 3-1 lead in the second on two Lionel Tomacder (16 kills, 1 block) and Jason Sahara (8 kills, 5 blocks) slams.
Waimea’s James Marques (10 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces) doesn’t break that easy, either.
His two kills and another two by Desmond Rodrigues (10 kills 2 aces) put the Menehunes ahead 7-5.
The two teams eventually traded the lead three times before being deadlocked, 12-12.
Marques literally soared. He lead the Menehunes this far, and wasn’t leaving that gym without the KIF crown on his head.
With two, high-flying, emphatic kills, Marques propelled his Menehunes to a 14-12 victory and a chance to compete at the state level.
The team was ecstatic. They capped a gritty season with a tight win and finally stood out as the best V-ballers on Kaua’i.
