KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys volleyball second round got off to an interesting start on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, when Waimea beat first-round champ Island School 3-0 in junior varsity and 3-1 in varsity play, and Kapa‘a swept its series, 2-1 in JV and 3-0 in varsity, over Kaua‘i High School.
Playing at Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea, the hosting Menehune JV were straight-set winners, 25-21, 25-12 and 15-4 over the visiting Voyagers. In varsity action, the Menehune dropped the first set to Island School, 22-25, before rebounding to take the next three sets, 25-22, 29-27 and 25-18.
Over at Bernice Hundley Gym on the Kapa‘a High campus, the Warriors hosted Kaua‘i High and the Warrior JV took the series, 25-17, 16-25 and 15-12, effectively holding back the JV Raiders who, following a second set win, closed the gap in the final set to within three points before the clock ran out.
The varsity Warriors, who needed five sets to pick up its first season win on Friday, won on Tuesday in straight sets over Kaua‘i High, 25-16, 25-17 and 27-25.
Kapa‘a benefited from the addition of big man Chris Rapozo to anchor the middle and supplement the hitting put up by Kyle Baunsit, Austin Green from the opposite side, and Moku Tolenoa.
Rapozo effectively closed the middle to the Raiders with his share of solid blocking. He supplemented the night with a good performance from the back row as well.
Down 0-2, Kaua‘i High entered the third set to point first and build a 6-3 lead before Kapa‘a’s Austin Green served up six straight points to take a 9-6 advantage behind Raider miscues and hits from Warriors Kyle Baunsit and Steeler Burley.
Kaua‘i High answered with a pair of whacks from Bryan Brown. A Kapa‘a net violation deadlocked the set at 9-9.
The stalemate exchanges continued until Kaua‘i High broke a 24-24 tie due to a Kapa‘a hitting error.
Kapa‘a’s Green knotted the contest at 25 before locking up the night when the Raiders suffered a hitting error. Baunsit sealed the deal, 27-25, on a clean hit.
KIF boys volleyball continues on Friday, April 14, 2023, when Waimea visits Kaua‘i High and Kapa‘a takes on Island School at Wilcox Gymnasium on Island School’s Puhi campus.
The JV games at both sites start at 5 p.m. The varsity contests follow, but not earlier than 6:30 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
