KAPA‘A — In a rematch of each team’s opening-night match, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders again topped the Kapa‘a Lady Warriors by a score of 22-25, 25-12, 25-21, 27-25, Saturday night at the Kapa‘a High School Gym. Kapa‘a came out strong
KAPA‘A — In a rematch of each team’s opening-night match, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders again topped the Kapa‘a Lady Warriors by a score of 22-25, 25-12, 25-21, 27-25, Saturday night at the Kapa‘a High School Gym.
Kapa‘a came out strong and gained the early advantage. They had a 24-17 edge in the first game, but Kaua‘i did not give up easily and grabbed the next five points, before Kapa‘a was finally able to close it out.
The teams continued to stay neck-and-neck to start the second game, as Kaua‘i took a slim 12-11 lead. However, the match turned around at that point as the Raiders ran off 11 straight points to go up 23-11, then taking the game 25-12.
Setter Waileia Kanealii was once again making plays for her teammates, compiling nine assists in the game. Her most frequent target was outside hitter Malia Kagawa, who had eight kills. Outside hitter Shyanne Sadora also had three kills and two blocks.
Kapa‘a’s Tori Tuttle had three kills and a block, while setter Mele Yama had four assists.
The third game was tight throughout, with neither team having more than a two-point lead until Kaua‘i went up 13-10. But Kapa‘a scored the next three, including an ace for Tylenn Morita.
Kaua‘i seemed to keep control as it gained a 20-16 edge, then had a point to grab the game at 24-21. Setter Janessa Grady found Kagawa for the finish and Kaua‘i took a 2-1 lead in the match.
Kanealii again was the floor general in the third game, racking up eight assists. Sadora had four blocks and two digs, while Saryna-Brooke Garcia had three digs.
For Kapa‘a, it was setter Jessilyn Artaho-Aki who led her team with four assists. Tuttle and Tylenn Morita each had three kills.
The Lady Warriors jumped out front in the fourth game, taking a 6-1 lead including a Leinaala McCabe ace on the game’s first point. Kaua‘i then stormed back and tied the game up at 7-7.
Senior Brittnee Tangalin had back-to-back aces for Kaua‘i to give her team a 14-12 lead, which it would then build up to 18-12.
Kapa‘a refused to back down and made the uphill climb to tie the game at 23-23. The Lady Warriors saved a match point when Artaho-Aki set up Morita for the finish and a 24-24 tie. They then grabbed the lead on McCabe’s kill.
Unfortunately for Kapa‘a, that would be its last point of the match, as Kanealii put in a sneaky finish to tie the game before the Raiders finished it off, 27-25.
In other KIF action, the Waimea Lady Menehune stayed unbeaten, increasing their record to 4-0 with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-12 win over Island School at the Island School Gym. The Waimea JV also won in their exhibition match, 25-5, 25-11, 25-22.
Kaua‘i will take on Waimea on Wednesday at Kaua‘i High School, while Kapa‘a will play host to Island School.
