KAPA‘A — Waimea led from start to finish of game one, didn’t lose a lead until 4-3 in game two, and used prolonged offensive runs in all three games to topple Kapa‘a in three straight games at Bernice Hundley Gymnasium
KAPA‘A — Waimea led from start to finish of game one, didn’t lose a lead until 4-3 in game two, and used prolonged offensive runs in all three games to topple Kapa‘a in three straight games at Bernice Hundley Gymnasium Wednesday, in Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball.
The scores were 25-21, 25-16 and 25-20, with Waimea never really threatened in game one, even when the Warriors clawed back to make it 24-20 after being down 24-13.
In game two, a little parity prevailed, with ties at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 14, with Kapa‘a leading 4-3, 8-7 and 10-9, holding the lead until Waimea knotted it at 14 and took the lead they would not again relinquish.
Kapa‘a would muster just two more points the rest of that game.
In what would be a scenario replayed to end the match in game three, Jared Matsumoto set Quinn Gonsalves for the kill to end game two.
Both teams looked a bit rusty after spring break and a long break between the first and second rounds of play, and in game one the squads combined for 24 errors, 13 by Waimea.
In game two, Kapa‘a had 11 errors, and Waimea eight.
Kapa‘a took brief leads in game three, 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2 and 4-3, and then would not lead again that night, tying the game at 4-4 and 5-5 before Waimea went on a 5-0 run behind the serving of Jacob Ka‘ohelauli‘i.
The closest the Warriors would come was within two, at 18-16 and 19-17, before Gonsalves ended the match on a kill from Matsumoto’s set.
Matsumoto was all over the score sheet, with 20 assists, four blocks, two kills and an ace, while Corey McDown celebrated a one-man block party in game three, with seven blocks (of his 13 on the night). He also finished with three kills and two assists.
Gonsalves had seven kills, four blocks, three digs and an assist. David Ka‘ohelauli‘i had four kills in game one, seven for the night, and three blocks.
Sean Shigematsu led Kapa‘a with four kills and eight blocks, and Kekoa Calipano had two kills, four blocks, five digs and eight assists. Rui Yap added three kills and three digs.
“What we tried to teach our guys is you gotta win with aggressiveness and technique,” said Kapa‘a coach Matt Gonsalves. “They showed some, but not enough to beat a good team like Waimea.
“We just gotta learn overall to keep the high intensity level, and we haven’t figured out how to do that yet.”
“Yeah, rusty,” Waimea coach Tony Magaoay commented on his squad’s play. “I guess the break was kinda long.”
He was happy with the play of McDown and Brenden Cristobal, who “did good in the middle.” McDown is “good in technique, but lacking some self-confidence,” but he gets playing time because he is playing well. There are several players on the bench who would be happy to be in there if he is not playing well, Magaoay added.
Round two continues with Waimea hosting Kaua‘i High Saturday at Clem Gomes Gym on the Waimea campus, with junior-varsity action beginning at 5 p.m., and varsity play no earlier than 6:30 p.m.
In junior-varsity action at Kapa‘a Wednesday, Kapa‘a took two of three from Waimea, 25-20 in game one, 25-19 in game two, before losing game three, 25-12.
Paul C. Curtis, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com
