LIHU‘E — The best was certainly saved for last — the last game that is, as the Kaua‘i High School girls varsity squad put a blemish on Waimea High School’s record and tied the Menehune for the top spot going
LIHU‘E — The best was certainly saved for last — the last game that is, as the Kaua‘i High School girls varsity squad put a blemish on Waimea High School’s record and tied the Menehune for the top spot going into the last game of the first round.
The Red Raiders defeated the Menehune in straight sets, 25-23, 25-8. Meanwhile, the Kaua‘i boys varsity squad fought off a tough Waimea charge to win in straight sets, 25-23, 25-19.
In the first set of the girls match, Kaua‘i got out of the gates red hot with a 14-6 margin, thanks to big kills from Tina Moger, Kehau Judd, and Auika Muragin. Waimea’s early unforced errors plagued them throughout the first set.
However, the Menehune did make a comeback to close the gap, as Fa‘a Ta‘ala slapped a kill and blocked a Red Raider attempt to inch closer to Kaua‘i at 18-10.
Menehune setter Desiree Agader added a block to bring Waimea even closer. Jenna Gampon and Judd managed to put together a kill a piece to put the Red Raiders up 21-14. Then Kaua‘i started to commit its own share of unforced errors to help Waimea creep back into the set at 21-19. A Cailee Koga ace and a Nue Wong slam put Waimea right behind Kaua‘i at 23-22. Kaua‘i remained tough and Muragin’s kill ended the initial set in favor of the Red Raiders. Kaua‘i setter Ligaya Malones played a key role, as she controlled the game with great sets. Waimea jumped out into the lead in the second set with a Wong kill and a Banana Kajiwara ace to give the Menehune a 2-0 advantage.
Then it was all Judd, as she slammed home three straight kills to give the Red Raiders the momentum and a 12-5 lead. Waimea continued to help out Kaua‘i with unforced errors, which ballooned the Red Raider lead to 19-7.
Two Muragin slams, two Judd kills, and one Moger slam put Kaua‘i up, 23-7. Rosalyn Rapozo came up big in the serving department with two aces to seal the deal for Kaua‘i.
With the win, the Red Raiders are now 3-1 and Waimea drops to 2-1 going into the first round finale, as Kapa‘a travels to Waimea on Saturday.
If Waimea wins, a playoff will take place to decide the first round champion, but if Kapa‘a wins, Kaua‘i will take the first round crown. It’s not at all confusing on the boys varsity side, as Kaua‘i finished up round one with a perfect 4-0 record and captured the first round title.
The Red Raider boys came out strong in the first set going up 7-4, thanks to kills from Ryan Nagaoka and Kaleo Baxter. Waimea’s Timmy Mattos caught fire, though, as he nailed three straight kills to tie the game up at 7. A Bryan Hayashi kill and a Josh Cabral block put the Menehune up 14-10, but Futi Tavana and Kevin Downing brought the Red Raiders back with two kills a piece to put Kaua‘i up 18-17. Micah Young got into the action to give the Red Raiders a 21-18 advantage. A Hayashi kill tied the set up at 22, but a Baxter facial gave Kaua‘i the extra rush to go up 23-22. A Tavana slam ended the first set in Kaua‘i’s favor at 25-23. The Red Raiders took control of the second set to win it, 25-19. Waimea faces Kapa‘a on Saturday in Waimea and Kaua‘i will have some rest before the start of the second round, as they take on Kapa‘a on Oct. 6 at Kapa‘a.
