WAIMEA — As the chorus to “We Are The Champions” blasted throughout the Waimea High School gym, a joyous scene broke out that seemed unlikely a mere 90 minutes earlier. The Waimea Menehune boys volleyball team added to their school’s
WAIMEA — As the chorus to “We Are The Champions” blasted throughout the Waimea High School gym, a joyous scene broke out that seemed unlikely a mere 90 minutes earlier.
The Waimea Menehune boys volleyball team added to their school’s collection of championships this spring season with a Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title after Tuesday night’s thrilling 16-25, 31-29, 18-25, 25-16, 15-12 victory over the Kapa‘a Warriors.
The match closed out in a fifth set that was as bizarre as it was exciting. Kapa‘a lost a crucial point when the official issued a red card, but that was evened out as Waimea gave up a point when it had the wrong player lined up to deliver the serve coming out of a timeout.
The Menehune took the first three points, including an ace from Ryan Kanahele, but the Warriors came back and kept things tight, trailing 8-7 at the midway point.
Waimea took four straight points, including the red card, to grab a 12-7 lead, needing three points for the league crown. Kapa‘a battled back and had the deficit down to two at 14-12, but Corey McDown sent a feed out wide to Kevin Killerman, who delivered the championship kill.
David Kaohelaulii was Waimea’s top finisher with 26 kills in the match. He also added eight blocks.
McDown tallied 41 assists in the bout, plus 12 blocks.
Killerman had nine kills and five blocks on the night. Kalen McCracken had 13 blocks and Jordan and Chase Parongao had nine and eight digs, respectively.
Kanahele came alive down the stretch, notching six of his 12 kills in the fourth set.
Dane Harding added 12 blocks and three kills.
Stephen Greenleaf paced the Warriors with 18 kills on the night. Sean Shigematsu tallied 13 kills and 10 blocks.
Setter Kekoa Colipano had 28 assists, while Weston Moniz had 13 digs, nine coming in the second set.
Tyrus Moises had 13 assists and three digs.
Waimea dropped the opening set while looking sluggish and then trailed 17-12 in the second set before turning things around. That crucial second set featured 10 ties and saw Waimea fight off two set points.
McDown set up Kaohelaulii for the kill on the final two points as the Menehune were visibly fighting for their season.
The Warriors somehow managed to regain the momentum in the third, taking a 12-7 lead and forcing a Menehune timeout. They led by as many as seven and never let Waimea back in contention, winning the set when a Menehune shot found the net for a 2-1 lead.
Waimea capitalized on some Kapa‘a errors midway through the fourth to build a small lead and was then able to run away with the set, which was finished off by a Kanahele kill off a McDown feed.
The Waimea win sends it to the HHSAA state championship tournament, which is scheduled for May 12-15 at Kalani and Farrington High Schools.
Kapa‘a came up just short in a season that saw it face a number of lineup changes and gutty performances, using a four-match win streak to take the season’s opening-round title.
