The Menehune of Waimea High and the Kapaa Warriors will decide the season’s first-half champion tonight when the teams link up at 6:30 at Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea.
After taking down the Red Raiders of Kauai High in four sets on Tuesday, the Menehune earned the right to advance to the second game of the three-team playoff against the Warriors, who received a first-round bye.
Friday’s matchup will be the third matchup between the teams this season and will break their 1-1 split.
In the first matchup between the Menehune and Warriors back on Sept. 4, Waimea put Kapaa away in straight sets, 25-12, 25-22, 25-21 at Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapaa.
Leading the way for Waimea in their season opener was Mariyah Oliver, who finished the match with 15 kills. Kawena Warren, Caitlyn Owen and Lei Alejandro also added eight kills each to down the Warriors and hand them their first loss.
But on Sept. 14, their second meeting, things were much different.
Coming off the heels of their first victory of the season against the Island School Voyagers, Kapaa shocked the Menehune in five sets out in Waimea, handing the Menehune their first loss of the season.
The Warriors used strong serving and totaled 13 aces on the match. Kaiemi Silva recorded six aces while teammate Brainee Cabacungan chipped in with five of her own.
Kapaa has caught fire since starting the season 0-2 and are currently riding a four-game winning streak.
Waimea, after opening the season 3-0, has gone 2-2 in their last four games.
Friday’s showdown will finish off the first-half of the season, and the second-half will begin next week.
• Tyson Agbayani, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or tagbayani@thegardenisland.com.
