KAPAA — The Kapaa High School Warriors opened the Kauai Interscholastic Federation second round with a straight set win over Kauai High School Tuesday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym. The Kapaa women, holding the first round title, unleashed firepower
KAPAA — The Kapaa High School Warriors opened the Kauai Interscholastic Federation second round with a straight set win over Kauai High School Tuesday night at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
The Kapaa women, holding the first round title, unleashed firepower from beyond the middle to take the Red Raiders, 25-21, 25-22, and 25-20.
“Kauai mixed it up nicely,” said Evan Costa, Kapaa’s coach. “As coaches we have to expect that our opponents will mix things up and exploit our weaknesses. Our girls had to work to stay disciplined to their positions.”
Kapaa maintained control throughout the night despite Kauai tying the game several times.
Tori Daligcon-Pomakai led the Kapaa hitters from the right side and on occasion moved over to the left side for some strikes, closing the night with a solid kill that ended the final match.
“Simple errors,” said Dorene Matias, Kauai’s coach. “If you add the errors, that is the difference in the game totals. I’m proud of how these young girls played, although they were a little complacent and Kapaa kept coming and coming.”
Kapaa was tentative in the first touches of the night, but soon settled into a rhythm behind what the coach refers to as their Polynesian Triangle — Tafea Paea, Siokapesi Paua and Tupou Paea — and the hitting of Daligon-Pomaikai, Keani Tolenoa in the first set, as well as Haaheo Mahinai, and Analeigha Carvalho Toloai.
“I am glad Ana came back,” Costa said. “She took time off, and now that she’s back, she’s figured it out — it’s hard to get on the floor. You need to work hard because every one of those girls work for their spot on the floor.”
Kauai relied on its go-to scorer Adrienne Graycochea, who mixed up her strikes from all over the court, including from the back row. She got help from Baylie Caberto, Taegan Keep, Mie Miller and Rebecca Zenger.
Earlier in the evening, the Kapaa junior varsity prevailed over Kauai, 2-1, dropping its first set 18-25 before rebounding in the remaining two sets, 25-22, 25-17.
With the win, Kapaa next travels to the Wilcox Gym at Island School on Friday while Kauai hosts Waimea at the Kauai High School Gym. The junior varsity match starts at 5 p.m. with the varsity games starting no earlier than 6:30 p.m.
