OIA Girls Volleyball
Kahuku opens up OIA campaign with sweep of Kaiser


  



Mon, Aug 29, 2022 @ Kaiser [ 7:00 pm ]


FINAL  1   2   3   4   5      
KAH (15-1) 25 25 25 - - 3
KAIS (5-5) 10 18 23 - - 0

It took a little bit of work to close things out, but Kahuku opened up its 2022 Oahu Interscholastic Association campaign on the winning end, sweeping Kaiser, 25-10, 25-18, 25-23.

Cha'lei Reid put down a career-high 17 kills, two blocks and two aces to pace the Red Raiders, and Mele Taumoepeau added 10 kills, three blocks and an ace in the win. 

"It was good," said Reid. "We still got a lot to work on, but I'm glad we started the season off with a win."

Kahuku had more total blocks (6 to 3) and aces (7 to 4) than Kaiser, and also assisted on 36 total kills compared to just 21.

Assists for Kahuku were split almost exactly in half amongst the two primary setters, with starter Dakoda Keni registering 17 and Madison Mamizuka tallying 15. Hehea Pulotu also came in briefly and notched two assists of her own.

"During practice we just get everyone in, so we can adjust to every setter," said Reid.

The Red Raiders took care of business in set one, building an 11-4 lead after a Keni ace, and steadily increasing the gap before closing out the first with a kill by Taumoepeau at 25-10.

Kaiser played better in set two, took the lead breifly at 4-3, then fell behind again before clawing back within five points at 16-11 on a Luna Ann Brown kill. Kahuku continued to keep the Cougars at bay in the set, and eventually took the second, 25-18.

Greg Yamamoto | SL    Purchase image

Set three saw an even closer contest, as the home team Cougars broke an 11-all tie to lead 12-11 on a Valo Sopoaga kill. Later in the set, down 21-18, Kaiser went on a 5-2 scoring spurt to tie the game at 23-all on Brown's eighth kill of the evening. But Kahuku buckled down to score the final two points to take the match, culminating with a Taumoepeau kill at 25-23.

Kaiser, who was led by Valo Sopoaga with 10 kills, will try to rebound on Wednesday when it hosts Castle at 7 p.m.

The turnaround is quick as it gets for Kahuku, a match Tuesday with East rival Moanalua, set for 7 p.m. on Na Menehune's home floor.

Kahuku has dropped two of the last three meetings with Moanalua, the one win a four set victory in the OIA Division I championships.

"We have a (league) title to defend, and that's our goal," said Reid.





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