LIHU‘E — Waimea High School middle Halia Moriguchi was explosive on Tuesday during the latest round of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls volleyball games.
Playing at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea, Moriguchi’s performance at the net extracted cheers of “Bam!” from the audience that anticipated her hits against Kaua‘i High School through four sets.
This feeling permeated across the KIF field that included the Island School at Kapa‘a contest being contested at the Bernice Hundley Gym where the Voyagers swept the Lady Warriors, but not without a fight from the green shirts. The Junior Varsity Voyagers took its series, 25-21, 25-16, and 23-25 after dropping its final set to the JV Kapa‘a squad.
On the varsity court, Island School prevailed, but not before dropping a marathon set 29-31 at the hands of Kapa‘a. The Voyagers left the Bernice Hundley with a win in four, 25-20, 25-19, 29-31, and 25-21
Over at the Clem Gomes Gym, Waimea also swept its series over Kaua‘i, but not without any challenges put up by the Lady Red Raiders. The JV Menehune took its series in two, 25-10, 25-17, and 24-26.
Moriguchi’s performance was part of the overall Menehune experience in its victory over Kaua‘i in four sets 25-17, 25-16, 28-30, and 25-17 after failing to close the door in a marathon third set that Kaua‘i sealed on a big bang from Nahe Bukoski.
“Both teams played well, tonight,” said Waimea coach Brandi Hori Moises. “The girls on both sides came to play competitive volleyball. But this is just the first round, and there is a lot more volleyball to play. Tonight’s play was a true representation of competitive volleyball.”
The win-in-four keeps Waimea undefeated in league play, and the first-half crown despite having another game against Island School, Friday night at the Wilcox Gymnasium.
Kaua‘i and Waimea hammered through point exchanges through the first two sets, Waimea pulling ahead in the first set, 21-16 on hits from Kamalie Alquiza and Kaiea Hui Hui-Caberto before Alquiza sealed the deal.
Waimea took a nice lead in the third set, 14-8 on an Alquiza bang, and hits from Moriguchi, Safina Sandblom. The Red Raiders answered with an unanswered string of points that included an ace from Gianna Lewis, Menehune court movement miscues, and Bukoski tying the contest, 15-15.
The contest stalemated four more times before a Kaua‘i back-row hit by Bukoski was matched by Waimea’s Kaiea Hui Hui-Caberto for the 25-25 deadlock. Kaua‘i’s Elise Yukimura picked up an ace for advantage only to have Alquiza bang out another tie. A Kaua‘i block up the middle came up with the advantage that was matched by another Alquiza hit before Bukoski nailed back-to-back hammers to give Kaua‘i the hard-fought win.
“Who would’ve thought volleyball was such a mental sport?” said Kaua‘i coach Shy Sadora. “We’ve got to work on getting the girls stronger, mentally.”
With Waimea’s win and undefeated record, the KIF ends its first round, Friday when Waimea visits Island School at the Wilcox Gymnasium, and Kaua‘i hosts Kapa‘a at the Kaua‘i High School gym. The JV contest serves up at 5 p.m. at both locations with the varsity contest serving up 25 minutes following the completion of the JV games.
Scoreboard
• Waimea JV/Kaua‘i JV: 25-10, 25-17, 24-26
• Waimea Varsity/Kaua‘i Varsity: 25-17, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17
• Island School JV/Kapa‘a: 25-21, 25-16, 23-25
• Island School Varsity/Kapa‘a Varsity: 25-20, 25-19, 29-31, 25-21
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
