LIHUE — The Waimea High School volleyball team was virtually unchallenged heading into Wednesday night’s match with Kauai High School.
The Menehune volleyball team entered the contest with a perfect record of 8-0, cruised through the first two rounds of competition easily, that is, until they played the Red Raiders’ volleyball team.
Waimea eventually captured the match in four games, winning 22-25, 25-20, 25-13, 28-26 at Kauai High School.
Menehune’s head volleyball coach Brandi Hori-Moises said she felt the near-upset threat posed by Kauai was precisely what her undefeated team needed at this juncture of the season.
Hori-Moises described the topsy-turvy match as a playoff atmosphere.
“Kauai High brought their ‘A’ game,” Hori-Moises said of her team’s performance.
It was a humbling experience that was needed, she said, and she is confident her team will take it as a learning experience.
”I think the timing was good,” she said.
Kauai, by the play of Hayley Kaeo, and Katherine O’Neill, and Kelsey Ortiz, took the first game.
The Menehune, behind Isabella Bateman, Makeyah Wisneski, bounced back to capture the second game, 25-20.
From there, the Menehune transformed into their usual dominant selves and claimed the third game, 25-13.
In spite of losing two consecutive games, the Red Raiders weren’t daunted by the power of Menehune’s front row.
Inspired by the front row of the Red Raiders, Ortiz and O’Neill, Kauai challenged Waimea. They teeter-tottered back-and-forth in game four until Waimea was able to get score the final two points for a 28-26 victory to take the match.
The Red Raiders, whose record now falls to 1-8 on the season, continue to work hard, and coach Kehau Regidor was proud of her team’s effort.
“I thought the girls stepped in, and they did well, and it’s like we are getting better,” Regidor said. “There are little mistakes here and there and we are scrappy and experience-wise, and we are hoping to play club, and get better in the offseason.”
She said the players are trusting each other more as a team.
“I am very proud of my starters and very proud of the girls that came in for them,” she said.
The Menehune will play Kapaa Saturday at 6 p.m. at Kapaa, and Kauai will travel to play Island School Saturday at 6 p.m at Island School.
Hori-Moises expects the meeting with Kapaa to be another challenge as they try to keep their unbeaten season in tact.
“They are very scrappy, and they are an excellent defensive team, and we have to get back to make some adjustments,” Hori-Moises said.
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Jason Blasco, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
