RAIDERS PULL OFF SQUEAKER

LIHU‘E — The nail biting habit that you picked up last night at the Kaua‘i, Waimea girls varsity volleyball match was well worth it because both teams gave you action you probably wouldn’t even see on Sportscenter!

The Kaua‘i girls nailed the coffin down in the third set with a 26-24 match clincher, as Erin Fabro’s paws denied a Waimea attempt.

Kaua‘i took the first set in convincing fashion, 25- 16, but the Menehune were stubborn and refused to let the Red Raiders cruise to victory.

Waimea managed to scratch back for the second set win, 26-24 with Tanya Tacub’s kill being the difference.

It was the Nue “Strong” Wong (Waimea) and Kehau “You gonna ack la dat” Judd (Kaua‘i) show early on as both players matched kill for kill in the duel. Tina Moger, Auika Muragin, and Ligaya “The mail girl” Malones delivered the meat for the Red Raiders in the first set win.

Mallorie Hepa saw action for the first time this year and was key in the Menehune attack, along with Banana Kajiwara, who peeled her way to key plays.

Judd and Wong continued to duel in the second set, but Wong was able to take control late in the set. Kaua‘i’s Fabro slammed three straight kills to the wood floors to keep things close at 18-15, but the Menehune pulled away.

Waimea was up 12-4 in the third, but couldn’t pull away, as Kaua‘i chipped away until it was tied up at 23 a piece.

After a Cailee Koga service error, Waimea could not recover, as the Red Raiders drilled home the final ingredients.

In the girls JV match, Kaua‘i continued to roll with a 25-24, 25-23 win over Waimea.

It was different on the boys JV side, as the Menehune beat the Red Raiders in three sets, 12-25, 25-19, 16-14. In the boys varsity match, Kaua‘i defeated Waimea in three sets.

Duane Shimogawa, Sports Editor can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) and kauaisports@pulitzer.net