Roosevelt Gives Kahuku First Defeat

David Kawada – Digital Sports Hawaii Content Editor

October 4, 2007
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Going undefeated in any team sport is a remarkable
feat. At 9-0, the Kahuku Girls Volleyball Team seemed to be on the
verge of such an accomplishment. They would host their nearest rival,
Roosevelt, whom they beat earlier in the season, with only 2 more games
after tonight.

Apparently Roosevelt did not receive the memo. The Lady
Roughriders dispatched the Red Raiders in 2 games, 25-23 and 25-17, in
Kahuku. Roosevelt improves to 9-2, while Kahuku is at 9-1.

The defending OIA champion Roughriders lost to Kahuku 2 -1 earlier in the season, after winning the first game.

Kahuku will not lose, said 10-year Roosevelt head
coach Bryan Camello. Our girls thought that they would just roll over
after game 1. But they’re tough. They came back at us. We need to be
prepared.

Leinaala Batalona

Game 1 tonight showed how equal these 2 teams are. Roosevelt led by as much as 19-14 after a quick attack by middle blocker Jacey Tagavilla. But Kahuku rallied with 2 aces by Lavinia Latu, good side outs, then a **** by Nile Teo, to narrow the lead to 19-18.

The Lady Red Raiders would tie Roosevelt at 21-21 after a tough serve by Leilani Tafuna caused a Rough Rider overpass. The tie would turn into a 2-point lead for Kahuku at 23-21.

But that would be all the scoring for the Red Raiders.

After a Kahuku service error, Emily Maeda served an ace to tie the game again at 23-23. Meleana Yamashiro, who struggled a bit in this game with only 2 kills and 2 hitting errors, came through with a **** to take the lead for good. A Red Raider hitting error ended game 1.

Game 2 would not be so close.

After being tied at 7 all in game 2, the Lady
Roughriders decided to make their move. Setter Darcie Anderson moved
her sets around with middle attacks from Casey Issenmann and Tagavilla
as well as the outside with Yamashiro and Maeda. Each would finish with
7 kills each.

Final score was 25-17 in favor of Roosevelt to complete the sweep.

**** leader for Kahuku was Leilani Tafuna with 5 kills, followed by Alayna Galeai and Nile Teo.

Our team had no intensity tonight, said Kahuku coach Uila Fotu Vendiola. This is a good wake up call.

Both Kahuku and Roosevelt are vying for the top 2 seeds in the OIA
Playoffs which receive the first round byes. The top 6 from the West
and East make the post season.

Shanlie Kaulula’au goes through block of Emily Maeda and Casey Issenmann