Kapaa High School Girls Volleyball Claims Kauai Interscholastic Title

KAPAA — The Kapaa High School girls volleyball team secured the Kauai Interscholastic Federation title by defeating Kauai High School in a thrilling match on March 12, 2024. With this victory, the team remains undefeated and will head into their final game of the season with a strong record.

The match took place at the Bernice Hundley Gym, where Kapaa faced a determined Kauai squad. The contest unfolded in four closely contested sets, with Kapaa ultimately prevailing 3-1. The sets concluded with scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, and 25-20, showcasing the competitive spirit of both teams.

In another significant match on the same evening at the Wilcox Gymnasium, Island School celebrated its Senior Night by splitting its series against Waimea High School. The junior varsity team from Waimea emerged victorious, winning 2-1. However, the varsity Voyagers rallied back, overcoming the Menehune 3-1 with set scores of 25-20, 15-25, 25-21, and 30-28.

Kapaa’s match against Kauai highlighted the resilience of both squads. The Warriors initially took the lead in the first set, overcoming an early 2-10 deficit. With a notable service performance from Zariah Fernandez, who delivered five consecutive points, Kauai began to close the gap. However, Kapaa’s Kuuipo Hunt and Carlyn Kamoku responded with strong plays to secure the first set.

The second set was a back-and-forth battle, with Kauai’s Leila Caoagas marking an ace that helped her team break a 15-15 tie. This allowed Kauai to take the set 25-23, marking the first set loss for Kapaa this season. The Warriors recovered in the third set, demonstrating their strength and teamwork to win 25-21.

The fourth set proved to be equally thrilling. After another tie at 18-18, Kapaa surged ahead with key contributions from senior Khloe Groove and an ace from Aedyn Umalla. They reached a match point with a score of 24-19, but Kauai fought back to close the gap. Ultimately, a hitting error from Kapaa allowed Kauai to score their 20th point. Yet, it was Kapaa who sealed the match, sending the “Aloha Ball” over the net to secure their title.

Looking ahead, Kapaa will face Waimea High School at the Clem Gomes Gym on March 15, 2024. The junior varsity games are scheduled to begin at 17:00, with the varsity matches following approximately 25 minutes later. Meanwhile, Island School will visit Kauai High School for their Senior Night at the new Kauai High School gymnasium.

The excitement of high school volleyball continues to build, as teams compete fiercely for victory and the honor of being crowned champions.