Kaua‘i hands Waimea first shut-out loss

Kaua‘i 3, Waimea 0

WAIMEA — Kaua‘i High School’s boys volleyball team handed Waimea High School its first, shut-out loss in two years, beating them in three sets, 25-21, 25-23 and 25-15.

Last month, Kaua‘i beat Waimea it was in five games (3-2). Last year, the Menehune lost once to Kapa‘a High School.

The Red Raiders (2-2 Round 2, 4-4 overall) now find themselves in the same predicament as the first round. Having been the only team to beat Waimea in the first round, the Raiders awaited the final game of that round to see who would take the Round 1 title. They now must wait for the outcome of the Waimea (2-1, 5-2) versus Kapa‘a (1-2, 3-4) match on Saturday for the Round 2 title. A Waimea loss would give the schools a three-way tie and set up a playoff.

Kaua‘i quickly jumped to the lead in Game 1, last night, and held it throughout the set. Waimea got close only twice. After Sheadon Ringor served his second ace of the set, head coach Tony Magaoay finally called timeout. The Menehune rallied back from being down 14-18 to get within one, but saw their momentum halted with a kill by Basil Walton.

The second set saw Waimea jump to the lead. Waimea was up 11-8 when Kevin Chiba got a solo block on Ringor. Kaua‘i got within one when a lift was called on Keelan Sakuda while trying to return Walton’s serve. Walton then followed that up with an ace, tying the set at 16 apiece.

Kaua‘i held onto the lead to win by two.

Waimea’s errors got the best of them by the third set, with many of its balls going out or hitting the net.

Waimea’s hitters were held to single digits. Sakuda had posted nine kills, while Quinn Gonsalves had six. Jared Matsumoto tossed for a low 18 assists.

Kaua‘i was led by Walton who finished with 14 kills. Stine had 11 kills and Jeremy Robinson had eight. Aric Cansino finished with 33 assists.

Saturday’s game with start off with Kapa‘a and Waimea’s junior varsity teams taking the court at 5:30 p.m. The varsity game will follow.