I never knew how much I missed watching volleyball until it became part of my job description. Watching KIF volleyball has filled a hole I didn’t know existed. While I can admit it isn’t the same as watching my sister
I never knew how much I missed watching volleyball until it became part of my job description.
Watching KIF volleyball has filled a hole I didn’t know existed.
While I can admit it isn’t the same as watching my sister play club or high school ball, the action and energy at every game is.
The three-team playoff last week was one of the most thrilling and exciting moments I’ve covered since I started at The Garden Island last month.
With the Waimea Menehune and Kauai Red Raiders squaring off in the first playoff match, I didn’t know what to expect because the Red Raiders swept the Menehune just five days before.
Instead of a repeat performance by the Red Raiders, the Menehune bounced back in the first playoff game, taking down Kauai in four sets.
Although being able to bounce back against a team which beat you a week before is already a story in itself, the second match between the Kapaa Warriors and Menehune had just as great a storyline.
Falling to Waimea in decisive fashion on the opening night of the KIF season back on Sept. 4, the Warriors shocked the Menehune in their second matchup, winning in five sets on Sept. 14 in Waimea.
The Warriors went on to win their next two games following their win over Waimea, earning a four-game winning streak after starting their season 0-2.
Kapaa took that winning streak into last week’s first-half title game against a more-than-ready Menehune squad.
Waimea ultimately won that game in straight sets in what was, in my opinion, their best performance on the season.
The one thing that I’ve come to realize in my short time here and in the first-half of the season, is the quality of the teams here.
Although there isn’t the quantity of high school volleyball teams like other islands in the state, these girls can play.
Each team has the ability to knock off one another and it only makes covering the games that much more exciting.
Seeing those girls play with so much passion and heart is exactly what draws me to sports and what sports is all about.
While I won’t be cheering for my sister or my alma mater this week when the second-half of the season gets going, you can be sure I’m looking forward to it.
• Tyson Agbayani, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or tagbayani@thegardenisland.com.
