Waimea stays unbeaten in KIF boys volleyball

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Waimea High’s Isaiah Espanto follows his hit against the blocking effort of Kaua‘i High’s Kadden Kobayashi and Ernesto Alcones in the third set Saturday night during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Kaua‘i High’s Syrus Delos Reyes hits against the defense of Waimea High’s Johnny Pimental and Cayden Artaho in the first set Saturday during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Kaua‘i High’s Krayson Dao hits against the Waimea High blocking of Jonah Sandal and Kelani Lewis in the first set Saturday during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Waimea High’s Jonah Sandal and Johnny Pimental make a save effort of a Kaua‘i High ball in the first set Saturday during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Waimea High’s Isaiah Espanto gets the ball inside Kaua‘i High’s Kadden Kobayashi’s block in the second set Saturday during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Kaua‘i High’s Krayson Dao anticipates the play as Waimea’s Jonah Sandal sets and Ty Tsukayama and Kevin Valenciano prepare to hit in the third set Saturday during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High in Lihu‘e.

LIHU‘E — “This is the boys’ first win,” said Kaua‘i High School trainer Kevin Cadiente Saturday night during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball games at Kaua‘i High.

Despite taking the second set, 25-19 over Waimea High, the drive came up short as the Menehune took the series in four sets, 25-20, 19-25, 25-18 and 25-15.

Earlier in the evening of the contest that was re-scheduled due to the visit of the Pearl City High School volleyball program, the Kaua‘i High junior varsity squad emerged winners, 25-15, 21-25 and 25-21, over the JV Menehune.

Trailing 10-15 in the varsity opening set, the Red Raiders clawed back when Hans Leo Carlos served up a string of four points on Waimea miscues to pull Kaua‘i to within a digit, 15-16 on a Menehune double-hit infraction.

But the Menehune answered back with a hit from David “Kaio” Tsuchiya, a block from Kelani Lewis and a Raider net infraction to stay ahead and close the door despite hitting from Kaua‘i’s Krayson Dao.

The momentum drove the Raiders into the second set, where Dao’s hitting and Menehune infractions gave Kaua‘i an 8-4 bulge before Waimea unleashed Isaiah Espanto for a two-point deficit.

Kaua‘i answered with hits from Noah Louis and a Menehune error before Dao served up an ace for a 13-9 edge.

More hits from Louis coupled with Menehune miscues for a 17-11 Kaua‘i lead before a Kadden Kobayashi bang pushed Kaua‘i to the 20-point mark, 20-15, before Louis sealed the deal on a dump, 25-19.

The Menehune settled down to take the remaining sets, 25-18 and 25-15.

Kaua‘i next travels to the Bernice Hundley Gym Tuesday to face Kapa‘a High, with the JV games serving up from 5 p.m. and the varsity contest serving up no earlier than 6:30 p.m.

Waimea hosts Island School in a battle of undefeated teams at the Clem Gomes Gym, with the JV games serving up from 5 p.m. and the varsity contest starting no earlier than 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for both clashes are available online through TicketSpicket.

•••

Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.

0 Comments