WAIMEA — The Waimea High School’s boys volleyball team won its second Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title in a row yesterday defeating Kaua‘i High School in four sets, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16 and 25-20, at the Clem Gomes Gym. Waimea and Kaua‘i played
WAIMEA — The Waimea High School’s boys volleyball team won its second Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title in a row yesterday defeating Kaua‘i High School in four sets, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16 and 25-20, at the Clem Gomes Gym.
Waimea and Kaua‘i played the first set point by point for a good portion of the time, but costly errors by the Red Raiders — several out balls and missed hits — allowed Waimea to snag the lead and build on it. At 14-8, Waimea’s Aaron Vea opened up the lead by serving for six consecutive points. Toward the end of the set, Waimea held a 12-point lead.
Kaua‘i was also playing without two of its best front linemen in Basil Walton and Jeremy Robinson.
Walton started the second and Robinson saw court time halfway through.
The second set was a much closer game with Kaua‘i’s Jay Fernandez tying it at 11-11 with an ace. Waimea’s Kevin Chiba was got snubbed with the double block by Aric Cansino and Travis Stine twice before he was able to get through with a kill and give possession back to Waimea.
Later in the set, Kaua‘i was able to overturn momentum when at the second tie, Sheadon Ringor came up with a big kill. Kaua‘i would go on to take that set by two. It was also the best set defensively for the Raiders with Stine posting up nine of his match-total 14 blocks in this frame.
Kaua‘i had a rough third set. There were several questionable out calls and hit calls that went against Kaua‘i.
“We kind of got used to it all season,” said Corey Morishita, who received yellow card for questioning a call. “But I don’t feel bad losing to Waimea. They’re a good team. They a very well-coached team.”
The fourth and final set of the night was a fast-paced one with multiple long rallies. One ended with Waimea’s setter Jared Matsumoto putting one hand up for the block on Robinson. At 23-20, Keelan Sakuda hit off the block to bring the Menehune to match point. Stine’s hit out sealed the deal for Waimea and gave it the KIF’s slot in the New City Nissan Volleyball State Championships next week on O‘ahu.
Matsumoto finished with 27 assists and Sakuda finished with 11 kills and nine blocks.
For Kaua‘i, Cansino finished with 31 assists and Walton finished with 11 kills and seven digs. Ringor finished with eight kills, four blocks and two aces.
