WAIMEA — The Waimea Menehune went into Tuesday night’s game against the Kaua‘i High School Red Raider undefeated. Perhaps more impressive than the team’s untarnished record is the fact that going in to the match they have yet to lose
WAIMEA — The Waimea Menehune went into Tuesday night’s game against the Kaua‘i High School Red Raider undefeated. Perhaps more impressive than the team’s untarnished record is the fact that going in to the match they have yet to lose a set all season long. The Red Raiders would be successful at ending one of these streaks in what would be the biggest test this season for the Menehune. Kaua‘i would start exceptionally well taking the first two sets over the Menehune, however Waimea facing its first piece of adversity this season would respond, eventually coming away with the victory 24-26, 14-25, 29-27, 25-20 and 15-4.
The first set was highlighted by 13 lead changes and flurry of fantastic rallies.
After the back and forth with the score being 18-14 in favor of the Menehune, Kaua‘i would respond with its best play in the set gathering 10 of the next 12 points thanks in part to Kristle Henry and Adrienne Graycochea leaving the Red Raiders ahead 24-20.
Waimea would respond with solid play from Mariyah Oliver, which would tie the game at 24-24, unfortunately for Waimea an unforced error and a Kaua‘i ace would seal the first set 26-24 in favor of the Red Raiders.
The second set played out much differently with Kaua‘i taking on a 9-4 lead and would never relinquish it. The Red Raiders got fantastic play at the net for the majority of the night from Gilian Gregorio and Kawehi Louis-Diamond. The Menehune had its usual explosive attack at the net mostly neutralized by Kaua‘i’s front line and hustle on defense.
The Red Raider’s hustle would pay off as they decidedly beat Waimea 25-14 in the second set.
The third seat saw the Waimea Menehune facing defeat for the first time all season down 2-0. It appeared as if Kaua‘i would roll to another easy one as they took an 18-11 lead.
However, with its back against the wall Waimea would respond with at the net with Oliver and eventually rally back to tie the game at the service line with an ace from Bailey San Agustin-Nordmeier and leave the score 20-20.
The Red Raider did not roll over, keeping the score within a point until the score reached 28-27 in favor of the Menehune. Waimea’s Paige Ando would go on to get the kill and leave the Menehune with a chance to comeback in set four.
The fourth set would once again see the Red Raiders take an early led of 17-14.
The Red Raiders got solid play all night from Jondee Rivera and Tahra Kaui.
The Menehune once again would respond in the face of adversity. Waimea would go on to score 11 of the next 14 points with more good play from Oliver and Ando, which would end the fourth set 25-20 in favor of Waimea pushing the game into tiebreak.
The tiebreak would play out entirely different with Waimea finding more energy after its comeback and Kaua‘i looking tired. It was highlighted by Waimea’s Kawena Warren who earned a kill and block early to give the Menehune a 7-2 lead. Once again Oliver made her presence felt earning her team a crucial five points in the shortened tiebreak. Waimea would go on to take the tiebreak 15-4 and leave with its perfect record in tack.
The win puts Waimea at 7-0 on the season with a commanding lead in KIF. Waimea will prepare to take on Island School in Waimea on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The Red Raiders will take on the Kapa‘a Warriors on Friday at the Kaua‘i High School gym at 6:30 p.m.
In junior varsity action, Kaua‘i beat Waimea in three sets, 25-13, 25-17 and Waimea took the final set 25-23.
Over at Island School, the Voyagers hosted the Kapa‘a Warriors, with the Warriors winning in four sets, 25-22, 25-23, 19-25 and 25-20.
In junior varsity action Kapa‘a would win in straight sets over the Voyagers, 25-9, 25-6 and 25-10.
