KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball title was decided on the last ball of the fifth set Tuesday at the Bernice Hundley Gym. Kaua‘i High School triggered an eruption of red-shirted fans in the overflowing gym at Kapa‘a
KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball title was decided on the last ball of the fifth set Tuesday at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
Kaua‘i High School triggered an eruption of red-shirted fans in the overflowing gym at Kapa‘a High School as the final ball dropped unchallenged on the Kapa‘a side of the net.
Kapa‘a libero Jonathan Paleka, like the unchallenged ball, flopped onto the floor in frustration while the Raider fans erupted in glee with a 16-14 final set while the Kapa‘a Warriors stared at the scoreboard in disbelief.
Earlier, Kaua‘i took the first set, 27-25 before dropping the next two sets, 20-25 and 23-25, coming back in the fourth set, 25-21 to force the fifth set for the title.
With the win, the Red Raiders earn the KIF boys volleyball title and the right to represent the KIF in the Division II New City Nissan Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state volleyball championships at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center on O‘ahu.
Division II teams start the competition May 9, which culminates with the state title on May 11.
Both teams stayed close on the opening set, neither team gaining a greater than three-point lead throughout the game.
A Kapa‘a service error broke the 24-24 deadlock only to have Kaua‘i suffer a passing error to deadlock the match 25-25.
A Kapa‘a hitting error moved Kaua‘i into position for the Kalawai‘a Judd hit, which capped the action.
Following an Archie Vallatini ace, which gave Kaua‘i a 12-11 lead, the Warriors launched a four-point run, including two hits from Jeremiah Obrero, one from Rudy Aggot and a block by Tanner Henry for the 15-12 lead in the second set.
Following a block and two Raider hitting errors, which increased the lead 18-13. Kaua‘i chipped back, which included a Dominic Armstrong ace that pulled them within two points following a Warrior hitting error, 20-18.
Obrero’s hit and Henry’s block pulled Kapa‘a ahead with Obrero sealing the deal.
More seesaw action governed set 3. The Warriors pulled ahead following a 7-7 deadlock and held onto a lead, which at one point reached five points following an Astrero hit and a Kaua‘i hitting error.
A Judd hit, a Kapa‘a lift call and a Vallatini hit ignited the crowd as Kaua‘i pulled to within a digit, 24-23.
But Kapa‘a put the game away on a point from Nicholas Hantz.
The Warriors appeared to have the momentum in the fourth set, quickly building to a 9-4 lead behind two hits from Obrero.
But Kaua‘i turned the tide on an eight-point run, which included hits from Armstrong, a Moranz block and a tandem blocking effort from Judd and Armstrong. That coupled with three Kapa‘a hitting errors gave the Raiders the 24-21 lead before a Warrior hitting error sealed the game, 25-21.
Kaua‘i took the early lead, 5-2 in the fifth set behind a Moranz hit,which built to a 9-6 lead behind a Vallatini hit, and two blocks of Obrero hit attempts.
Kapa‘a launched its own run and came back to take the lead 12-11 behind hits from Agoot and Astrero.
A Moranz hit knotted the game 12-12, only to have Kapa‘a take the lead on a Raider service error.
The Warriors answered with a passing error of its own to knot the contest before Moranz took the lead, pushing past Astrero for the 14-13 lead.
Hantz answered with a missile up the middle for the 14-14 deadlock before Kaua‘i pulled ahead on a Vallatini hit, which was unchallenged at the end.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
