LIHU‘E — A total team effort and a hot start was enough for the Kaua‘i Red Raiders to notch a four-set victory over the Waimea Menehune, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, Saturday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym. Tyren Hasegawa
LIHU‘E — A total team effort and a hot start was enough for the Kaua‘i Red Raiders to notch a four-set victory over the Waimea Menehune, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, Saturday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym.
Tyren Hasegawa led his team with 18 assists, while adding five kills, four blocks and three aces to propel Kaua‘i to a 2-0 mark in the season’s second round.
Austin Simao tallied 10 kills, while Lucas Riley added nine. Riley also contributed six blocks and four aces in the match.
Waimea fell to 1-1 in the second round and 5-4 on the season. David Kaohelaulii was the top hitter with 15 kills and two aces.
Kalen McCracken continued to show his improvement and confidence at the net, finishing the night with 12 blocks and 10 kills, while Kaili Lagundino had nine kills.
Kaua‘i rushed out to a 7-1 lead in the opening set, then using a 10-3 run to pull away at 20-9. Waimea never got back to within fewer than seven and a shot past the baseline gave the Raiders the 25-16 win in the first.
Kaua‘i again started quickly in the second and a Hasegawa ace gave the Raiders a 15-9 lead. But the Menehune clawed back to within two at 17-15, only to see the Raiders run off four straight to lead by six again.
Holding a 24-21 edge, Austine Acorda fed Silas Gerardo for the kill and a 2-0 match lead.
Waimea claimed five of the first six points in the third, not wanting to see its night end quickly. Another 8-1 run, including two David Kaohelaulii aces and one from Chase Parongao gave Waimea a 15-6 lead, which it held for the rest of the set. A Beau Acoba kill brought the match to 2-1.
The fourth set was the closest with numerous ties and lead changes. Holding a one-point lead at 19-18, the Raiders put together three straight points to go up by four. Three points later, Cody Morden slammed home a kill to give Kaua‘i the 3-1 victory.
In the junior varsity matchup, Kaua‘i came away with a 25-14, 17-25, 25-15 victory over Waimea.
The boys are back in action Wednesday, as the Menehune will host the Kapa‘a Warriors at Waimea High School and the Raiders will head to Island School to take on the Voyagers. JV will begin at 5 p.m., followed by varsity at 6:30 p.m.
