WAIMEA — The Warriors are still in position to force a second round playoff game. Kapaa High School’s varsity girls volleyball team defeated Waimea in straight sets Friday night on the road, 25-15, 25-19 and 25-18. “What we did well
WAIMEA — The Warriors are still in position to force a second round playoff game.
Kapaa High School’s varsity girls volleyball team defeated Waimea in straight sets Friday night on the road, 25-15, 25-19 and 25-18.
“What we did well was we played for each other tonight. We got everybody in,” said Kapaa head coach Evan Costa. “It was one of the things that we struggled with individually, but tonight it was apparent in some of the stuff we’ve been working on. They’ve been playing for each other.”
The Warriors coach added he’s been focused on having his team play well consistently.
“We cannot have any roller coasters. So that’s what we’ve been trying to work on — trying to stay steady and avoid those ups and downs,” he said.
Junior Pesi Paui provided some spark off the bench for Kapaa (9-2 KIF, 3-1 second round, 0-1 playoff). She got two kills in the match.
“When Pesi came in, we all just got really excited. Our coaches, when we were talking in the room after the game, they told us how we got more excited when she (Paui) killed the ball than we do when our (regular hitters) kill the ball,” said Kapaa junior setter Kunani Tuttle. “This is her first year playing. We always get really excited when she makes kills. Even when she messes up, we just love her so much.”
Junior Tori Daligcon was Kapaa’s offensive leader with four kills and three aces. Senior Eryka Keoho had four kills and junior Brylyn Aiwohi scored four aces.
Waimea head coach Chad Delanoza said when his team loses, it’s because his players beat themselves by not transferring what they’ve worked on during practice to the games when they count.
“We recognize that. They recognize that. That’s basically the conversation we’ve been having,” the Menehune coach said. “We struggle doing the things we know we can (do), but we need to find a way to put it into play. … We’ll continue to work on ourselves as individuals and hopefully (piece together) the puzzle somewhere down the line for the last two games.
“I’m only as good as them. … It may not be a great, happy ending, but I’m always proud of them,” he added. “I hope that they don’t stop trying and that they don’t give up on each other and don’t give up on what we’ve done here.”
Shania Kahepuu was Waimea’s scoring leader with five kills. Caitlyn Owen had three kills and Ariell Lazaro had two kills and an ace.
Earlier in the evening, Kapaa’s junior varsity team also beat Waimea’s JV squad in straight sets, 26-24, 25-15 and 27-25.
Kapaa will play at Island School (0-10 KIF, 0-4 second round) and Waimea will play at Kauai (10-1 KIF, 4-0 second round, 1-0 playoff) on Tuesday. The junior varsity games begin at 5 p.m. and the varsity will follow.
