Kaiser sweeps McKinley to keep pace amongst OIA D2 unbeatens

Greg Yamamoto | SL

The new-look Cougars continued its undefeated run to open up its OIA Division II campaign, sweeping McKinley by the thinnest of margins, 25-23. 25-21, and 25-23.

Dillon Hall, one of just two players returning from a squad that graduated seven seniors a season ago, put down ten kills to lead all players in the match, four of those all coming in the late stages of each set with the lead hanging in the balance.

"In those 20 (point) moments, we just have to get a good serve in, we just have to keep our mental high. If we mess up, if they get a point, they're going to cheer loud. So as a team, we just have to cheer way louder than them," remarked Hall.

The start to match was a slow one to say the least for both squads, as just one point out of the first combined 21 in the opening set came on a natural point, a combo block by Hall and middle Ravi Rahim.

Both squads seemed to acclimate in the back half of the first, but a back and forth battle eventually went the home team's way, 25-23.

Set two saw the Cougars jump out to lead as large as eight on a Manoa Nayeli kill that made it 13-5, but the Tigers battled back to within a point at 21-20 on a connection from Akana Charles to Aliston Usaki. Hall's seventh kill of the match got the home team on the cusp, and Kellan Young's ace made it two sets to none advantage.

In the final set, McKinley kept pace throughout, it never led at any point in the match, and while the Tigers managed to tie the third up at 23-all, a pair of unforced errors put a cap on the contest.

Nayeli had eight kills and Rahim added three, and each middle contributed a block for Kaiser, and sophomore setter Kellen Young dished out 23 assists.

"They're the only middles we have, but they prove it, they get the work in practice so they can compete in games," said Hall of Nayeli and Rahim. "And with Kellen, he's a new setter, and it's amazing what he's doing so far."

McKinley was paced by Usaki with nine kills, Johnathan Moala added six kills of his own. Akana Charles and Anthony Coloma O'Dell combined for 22 assists.

Weather impacts from the recent storm pushed back a date with Kapolei, the other D2 squad currently at 2-0 thus far, from Mar. 11 all the way to April 15, now the season finale for the Cougars.

"We totally thought we going to be playing them then the game gets postponed because of the weather, so me personally, I'm waiting for April 15th man," said Hall of playing the Hurricanes. "I want to play them pretty bad."