KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls volleyball season got its second half underway Wednesday night with the Kaua‘i Red Raiders coming away with a 3-1 victory over the Kapa‘a Lady Warriors at Kapa‘a High School. The night began with
KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls volleyball season got its second half underway Wednesday night with the Kaua‘i Red Raiders coming away with a 3-1 victory over the Kapa‘a Lady Warriors at Kapa‘a High School.
The night began with the Lady Warriors looking strong and controlling most of the action. They jumped out to a 7-1 lead, playing crisply and showing no ill-effects from the week-long layoff.
The lead increased to 20-10 before Kaua‘i coach Corey Morishita called a timeout and gathered his team. Whatever it was he said in the huddle, it worked. The Raiders rattled off 11 of the next 12 points to knot up the game at 21 points apiece.
The teams then traded points, both showing a sense of urgency. With Kapa‘a leading 25-24, a great get was nullified when the third ball hit an overhead gym light and fell back to the Kapa‘a side, tying up the game once again.
Kaua‘i setter Waileia Kanealii, who did not play for much of the first game before being called upon by Coach Morishita, found outside hitter Krystin Yasay for a kill and a one-point lead at 26-25. However, Kapa‘a answered with a kill of their own, Taryn Kaui finishing a pass from Hartley Dabin.
Yet Kaua‘i managed to pull out the opening win when a Kapa‘a return shot sailed long, ending the contest at 28-26.
In the second game, Kaua‘i won the first point, however Kapa‘a coach Gary Maguire had inquired about the libero’s jersey before the point started. Since the jersey was dark and was supposed to be light, the point was reversed and awarded to Kapa‘a.
From there, Kapa‘a again started strong and built an 11-4 lead, including an ace from Tori Tuttle. At 12-5, Kaua‘i’s Kanealii appeared to injure her ankle during play and fell to the floor. Kapa‘a won the point against the shorthanded Raiders, but Kanealii shook off the injury and remained in the game.
This time the Lady Warriors were able to maintain their lead throughout and a kill from Jessilyn Artaho-Aki gave her team a 25-19 win to even the match at a game apiece.
Once again, Kapa‘a took an early lead in the following game, thanks in large part to three consecutive aces from Kaui, giving her team the 6-2 lead. But Kaua‘i’s comeback occurred much earlier this time, as they took the next four points and then extended to an 18-12 edge, forcing a Kapa‘a timeout.
The Lady Warriors clawed back and cut the deficit to three points at 24-21, but Kanealii set up outside hitter Teal Basquez for a strong finish and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The same scenario repeated itself in Game 4 and back-to-back aces from Tuttle gave Kapa‘a an 11-4 early lead. But another strong run from Kaua‘i evened the contest at 15-15, from which point the teams traded points for much of the match’s remainder.
Trailing 24-21, Lea Sieckmann set up Kaui for a finish, followed by a Tuttle kill from setter Mele Yama to cut the Raiders’ lead to one point.
But the next point closed out the evening’s action when Kaua‘i middle blocker Reanna Javinar, who was all over the court making plays throughout the night, finished a Kanealii set for the 25-23 victory.
Kaua‘i’s Yasay led all players with 15 kills in the contest. Kanealii was tops in assists with 34 in the four games.
Tuttle had 11 kills for Kapa‘a while Yama had 11 assists. Leinaala McCabe had a good showing with six kills and five digs.
In earlier action, the Kaua‘i girls JV won its match against Kapa‘a, taking two out of three games, 25-18, 25-19, 23-25.
Elsewhere in the KIF, Waimea remained unbeaten with a three-game road victory over host Island School, 25-6, 25-18, 25-14.
The Waimea JV girls also win their three games against Island JV.
KIF action will resume on Saturday when the 7-0 Waimea Lady Menehune will face Kaua‘i at the Kaua‘i High School Gym.
Kapa‘a will be home once again to take on Island School.
