Kaua‘i 3, Kapa‘a 1 – Kaua‘i High School’s girls volleyball team returned to its winning ways last night defeating Kapa‘a High School in four games, 25-22, 25-20, 20-25 and 25-8.
The Round 1-winning Red Raiders (2-1 Round 2, 8-1 Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation) saw the return of Waileia Kanealii to the starting lineup as the setter. In the 1 1/2 sets played, Kanealii posted 11 assists. She found a rhythm with hitter Jori Jasper, connecting with her for eight of her total 13 kills on the night. Jasper, too, was limited in play.
Kaua‘i also got offense from Carly Matsumoto who finished with four kills and solid defense from libero Tianna Esaki who came up with nine digs.
Mikaila Naholoholo, who relieved Kanealii, finished with eight assists.
Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a (1-2, 4-5) exchanged the lead multiple times during each set, except the fourth.
Kapa‘a played it pretty close in the first two, but got a huge edge from Kyah Schneider in the third. Down 14-10, Schneider served for five consecutive points to put the Lady Warriors up. They got up to a four-point lead and held on for the win.
But they seemed to have self-destructed by the fourth. They got off to a rough start — hitting the net or serving into it, or hitting out — and just couldn’t pull themselves together.
Kapa‘a head coach Gary Maguire knows he has talented players but attributed the fourth-set meltdown to lack of focus and leadership.
“There just wasn’t focus on the court. We need a leader to step up,” he said. “Right now, they’re just playing and no one’s really leading the team.”
The Kapa‘a defense was putting up good numbers — Leiui Kaholokula had seven blocks in two sets, Tori Tuttle finished the night with six and Schneider, five. Mai’lika Napoleon was all over the court, posting numbers in each category: nine assists, four aces, six kills and two digs.
With the win, Kaua‘i builds momentum down the final stretch of the round.
In the junior varsity game, Kapa‘a won 2-1. Kapa‘a won 25-22, 17-25 and 25-23.
Waimea 3, Island School 0
Waimea’s girls improved their second-round record to 3-0 last night, defeating Island School in three sets, 25-13, 25-14 and 25-8. The Lady Menehune can force a playoff against Round 1 champs Kaua‘i if they continue this winning streak.
They handed Kaua‘i its first regular-season loss last week.
Waimea next hosts Kapa‘a on Saturday and Island School goes to Kaua‘i.
The second round ends Saturday, Oct. 18 and if necessary, a playoff will start the following week.
