KAPAA — On the school’s homecoming week, the Warrior wahine got a win at their home gym.
Kapaa High School’s varsity girls volleyball team defeated Island School, 3-1, in Kauai Interscholastic Federeration ply Friday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapaa, 25-13, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20.
“The girls just came out and took care of business,” said Kapaa head coach Ari Logan. “There was a lot of change in our lineup lately just based on injury and certain things like that. We’ve just been trying to find something that works. They’ve been working hard, and it showed out there tonight.”
Kapaa (4-6 KIF, 2-2 2nd round) clinched the fourth set for the win on back-to-back aces by Warriors junior middle blocker Lani Alo.
There were six lead changes in that last set.
“I think she (Alo) is just tapping into her potential a little bit and feeling comfortable out there,” Logan said. “She’s got a great serve. She’s scored a lot of points for us this season back there at the service line.”
After falling by double digits in the opening set, Island School (1-9 KIF, 0-4 2nd round) evened the score by winning the second set, 26-24.
Tied at 24-24 in the set, Island took a 25-24 lead on a kill by Voyagers junior middle blocker Ki‘ilani Arruda. The Voyagers then clinched on an ace by junior outside hitter Ashley Mecham.
“We’re right there. We’re at the peak, but we just can’t get over it,” said Island head coach Kylie Silva.
With two matches left in the KIF season, Silva hopes the team, despite its record, will prove it shouldn’t be looked past in the remaining games.
“We’re here to fight. We’re here to represent. We’re here to not just be pushed around anymore,” Silva said.
Alo ended the match with seven kills, four aces and two blocks. Warriors senior outside hitter Sydney Nice led the team with 14 kills and three aces. Sophomore opposite hitter Kekaimalie Hunt had eight kills and two aces. Sophomore middle Chelsea Schneider had five kills.
Mecham ended with a match-high 16 kills along with a block and an ace. Arruda ended with one kill and one block. Voyagers sophomore opposite hitter Wailana Marvin had seven kills, a block and an ace. Junior opposite hitter Katie Cook had five kills, three blocks and two aces.
Kapaa also won the junior varsity match against Island. The JV Warriors won all three sets — 25-16, 28-26, 26-24.
Kapaa will host Kauai High School (6-4 KIF, 2-2 2nd round), and Island School will host Waimea (9-1 KIF, 4-0 2nd round) on Tuesday. The JV matches will begin 5 p.m. and the varsity will follow.
A Menehune win or a Red Raiders loss on Tuesday would clinch Waimea High School its second consecutive KIF varsity girls volleyball championship.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
