LIHU‘E — David Kaohelaulii finished with 12 kills, Jared Matsumoto had 34 assists and three aces and the Waimea boys volleyball team beat Kaua‘i in four games, 25-21, 26-24, 24-26, and 25-22. Quinn Gonsalves added 11 kills and three blocks
LIHU‘E — David Kaohelaulii finished with 12 kills, Jared Matsumoto had 34 assists and three aces and the Waimea boys volleyball team beat Kaua‘i in four games, 25-21, 26-24, 24-26, and 25-22.
Quinn Gonsalves added 11 kills and three blocks (two doubles and one solo) and Kalani Apilado was half of six double blocks.
The defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation champions, Waimea (2-0), started the night out business as usual for Matsumoto and his power line of Gonsalves, Kaohelaulii, Apilado and Keaka Canute. The team led the entire way, leading by as many as five points. But at 19-15, after Matsumoto had connected with Kaohelaulii, Gonsalves’ served the ball out for a turnover. Kaua‘i got to 19-18 after Waimea made some costly errors. Kaua‘i staved off three game points to keep the game going. The Menehune took that set with a kill by Gonsalves.
The Red Raiders (0-1) more than gave the Menehune a run for their money in the second set, leading all the way to the final stretch. Kaua‘i got up to 20-13 with an ace from Darren Lapitan and it was looking like Kaua‘i was about to close it out. Waimea rallied and halted Kaua‘i at 22-16. Waimea scored six straight points behind the service of Jacob Kaohelaulii for the tie at 22-22. He aced his next serve when Kaua‘i was called on a lift and it gave Waimea the lead for the first time in the second set.
An error on Kaua‘i helped pad the lead. Waimea pulled off the win with a dink from Dane Harding.
Kaua‘i was able to win the third set and much like the second set, the Raiders led most of the way. Waimea fought its way back again, but this time Kaua‘i was able to finish it off.
The fourth set brought a charging Waimea. Waimea was up 17-12, but it was Kaua‘i’s time to make a comeback. Kaua‘i tied the game at 17-17 with a kill from Austin Simao. Waimea brought in Canute who came up with a kill and an ace to reclaim the lead and get the Menehune another win.
Kaua‘i was led by setter Tyren Hasegawa who finished with 29 assists, Lester Alacar who finished with nine kills and Lapitan who had six kills and eight blocks.
Kaua‘i next travels to Kapa‘a. The junior varsity game starts at 5 p.m. with the varsity game to follow.
