By Jason Blasco
The Garden Island
LIHUE—The Waimea High School volleyball team was looking for their second-consecutive victory over Island High School in round two and got it in the form of a clean sweep Saturday night at Island High School.
The Menehune volleyball team, controlled the tempo of the match from the start of the game, winning round two over Island Saturday night at Island High School, and capturing the match, winning three-consecutive games to capture the victory over the Voyagers.
Waimea High School volleyball coach Brandi Hori-Moises felt the key to victory was keeping the team focused.
Hori-Moises also acknowledged she knows her team has to sustain momentum for them to be successful.
“The girls just did a great job of staying focused (throughout the entire match), and (our team) just cut the distractions out, and kept moving,” Hori-Moises said. “We are not done (with the season) yet.”
Throughout the match, Island struggled to established momentum against a Waimea team’s ball control and efficiency, which has led now to their perfect 7-0 record.
Island Voyagers’ coach Darrick Peleras knows his team had to play at a high level to knock off one of the island’s premier volleyball teams in the area.
“Round 2 has a lot of higher expectations, and (after the loss to Island) this is a little steeper hill for us to climb, and our only chance (after the loss) get to round 2, and force a playoff. Our team is where it should be (at this juncture of the season) except for the mental game.”
Peleras said he felt if his team improves the mental game, they will enhance their ability to stay in contention as the season progresses.
“(Tonight) we weren’t there, and (Waimea) played a great game, and they executed and had good ball control, but that is to be expected when you play them,” Peleras said.
As the Voyagers attempt to remain in contention, they need to modify their style of play moving forward, Peleras said.
“I would like to see (our team) toughen up, and play like they know how to play, and play with confidence, and belief,” Peleras said.
