Red Raiders victorious

LIHUE After battling all season long, the series between the Red Raider girls and the Warrior wahine reached a climax and a champion was crowned.

Kauai High Schools varsity girls volleyball team defeated Kapaa in straight sets at home in Mondays second round playoff game, 25-16, 25-19 and 25-23, to win the Kauai Interscholastic Federation title.

The girls did a really good job. Both teams played a really tough game, said Red Raiders head coach Dorene Matias. Our girls wanted it so badly. I told them, Play it like its your last game. I couldnt do any more, but they could. They played with all their heart.

After winning the first two sets, the Red Raiders (12-2 KIF, 5-1 second round, 2-0 playoff) found themselves in a 12-8 deficit in the final game. The action continued back and forth until Kauai fought back to tie it, 22-22.

Freshman Tia Takasakis ace gave the Red Raiders the lead for good en route to completing the sweep.

It was really close in the end. It could have gone either way, Matias said. I dont want to take anything away from Kapaa. Theyre tough ... I was up against a really good coaching squad, too, and a really good team.

Senior co-captain Harley Kaeo had six kills, including the game-winner in the second set, and two blocks.

This was our last chance as seniors. We got our stuff together from our last loss and decided this was going to be it might as well play our hearts out, Kaeo said. All the hard hours put in at practice, all the running that you hate but you got to do, it finally paid off.

Junior Adrienne Graycochea and senior Jondee Rivera each added five kills.

I feel that a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, Graycochea said. We talked more on the court, and we found the openings a lot better. It was just going great. It was going smooth for us.

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Red Raiders victorious

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