Kalani girls volleyball keeps rolling with road win against rival Kaiser

Kalani girls volleyball keeps rolling with road win against rival Kaiser

Oct 1, 2024

 

Kalani girls volleyball keeps rolling with road win against rival Kaiser

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 1, 2024

PRINTABLE VERSION

HAWAI’I KAI — Nothing like a little East Honolulu rivalry.

The Kalani girls volleyball team pulled away for a 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20 road win over rival Kaiser Monday night in an OIA East match.

Senior libero Jaci Miyasaki had a serving run of seven straight points that took the Falcons (5-2) from a 14-11 deficit to a 18-14 advantage to flip the momentum in the fourth and final set to help push Kalani to victory.

Miyasaki finished with a match-high 22 digs, five aces and two assists and took home HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders Sandwich Shop.

The rivalry between Kalani and Kaiser runs deep as Miyasaki said it was payback for when the Kaiser football team defeated the Falcons, 49-7, two Fridays ago. The presence of the Cougars’ cheering section, dubbed as the “Cougar Cage,” was also felt as they were decked out in construction gear.

“It feels great because we lost to them last week in our football team. It’s great that we were able to come in strong and beat them in their home gym,” said Miyasaki.

Miyasaki is one of the few veteran players that was on the Kalani team that reached the state tournament last season. After getting their fifth win of league play, Miyasaki said the young team is starting to play to their potential.

“We’re slowly making progress. It’s a rough start, but now we’re starting to get the ball rolling and we’re ready for anyone.”

Freshman Rohm Takamoto had a double-double of 12 kills and 12 digs with three aces while junior opposite Ariana Taylor had 11 kills and two blocks. Middle Alina Stephenson was also solid with nine kills, including match point, and three blocks.

Samantha Niide put down nine kills and Hana Engelhardt had seven kills and two blocks to round out the offense. Starting setter Tatum Frias also was a weapon at the service line with four aces to go along with her 27 assists.

Kaiser freshman Hatesa Sopoaga led the Cougars (2-6) in the loss with a match-high 13 kills.

No. 3 Mililani guts out 14-10 win over No. 2 Kahuku to improve to 6-0

No. 3 Mililani guts out 14-10 win over No. 2 Kahuku to improve to 6-0

Sep 29, 2024

No. 3 Mililani guts out 14-10 win over No. 2 Kahuku to improve to 6-0

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

PRINTABLE VERSION

MILILANI — Somehow someway, the Mililani Trojans found a way.

Third-ranked Mililani edged No. 2 Kahuku in a defensive battle, 14-10, Saturday night at John Kauinana Stadium in what was a rematch of last year’s OIA and state championship games.

Linebacker Isaiah Iosefa tallied 13 total tackles and had an interception return to the 1-yard line to set up the Trojans’ opening score while edge rusher Chevy Robinson notched a third-down TFL and a fourth-down sack late in the fourth quarter while the Red Raiders were in the red zone to help preserve the win.

“Our coaches just put into our minds that this is the game, this is the game that people want and this is the game that we want,” said Iosefa.

Both touchdowns that Mililani (6-0 overall, 2-0 league) came courtesy of the versatile slot receiver Lehiwa Kahana-Travis. He punched in the Trojans’ opening score with a 1-yard run and took a jet sweep handoff before firing a strike to Jonah “Tana” Togafau-Tavui for the go-ahead 58-yard score to give Mililani a 14-10 lead with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

The play that led to Kahana-Travis’ TD pass was the first time that the Trojans attempted it in a game, Togafau-Tavui said.

“We were working on that play Thursday. I didn’t think we were ever gonna run it. When they said ‘run it,’ oh, I knew we were gonna score and it was just a great throw from Lehiwa.”

After Mililani’s go-ahead score, the Red Raiders (4-3, 1-1) drove all the way to the Trojans’ 1-yard line where Kahuku faced third-and-goal.

But that’s when Robinson stood tall.

The Mililani senior was able to shoot into the backfield on third down and drop Malosi Fiatoa for a loss of three yards.

Robinson credited defensive line coach Mose Tuia with some advice before the play.

“He told me just shoot the gap, so I just went with it and I did what he told me to do and I shot the gap and made that tackle,” Robinson said.

Then on the very next play, Robinson finished off a quarterback sack that forced a turnover-on-downs after linebacker Mason Faoa made the initial pressure.

“He slowed down the quarterback and that’s where I got to finish the job. My boys on defense, we all just played with our heads on fire,” Robinson remarked.

Mililani, who will likely move up to No. 2 in the ScoringLive Power Rankings, host No. 1 Campbell next Saturday.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL LASQUERO

Waipahu evens league record with four-set win over visiting ‘Aiea

Waipahu evens league record with four-set win over visiting ‘Aiea

Sep 25, 2024

 

WAIPAHU EVENS LEAGUE RECORD WITH FOUR-SET WIN OVER VISITING ‘AIEA

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
PRINTABLE VERSION

WAIPAHU — Back in the win column for the home team.

The Waipahu girls volleyball team evened its record at 3-3 after earning a four-set win over visiting ‘Aiea in a OIA West match Tuesday night. Set scores were 25-16, 25-20, 13-25, 25-13.

Senior libero ‘Ale’amaikalani Paiva was a steady presence for the Marauders and took home HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders Sandwich Shop. Paiva recorded 14 digs, seven assists and a match-high six aces.

“It was a really big thing especially since our team has kind of had some ups and downs and we are finally starting to get it,” Paiva said of the win.

Maiya Beltran was the leading attacker for Waipahu with 10 kills and six digs while Ariah Lynn Apostol followed with nine kills, five digs, three assists and one block.

Seven other players recorded kills for the Marauders with setter Shaeniah La Fountain boasting a double-double of 20 assists, 15 digs to along with three aces and three kills.

Nohealani Beltran led Na Alii’s offense with eight kills, two blocks and 11 digs. In the back row for ‘Aiea was Jessica Morris, who finished with a team-high 14 digs after putting on the libero jersey after the first set.

The visiting team, who was seeking its first win of the regular season, only played with eight players as a number of players were unavailable due to injury.

Conversely, the Marauders were able to mix-and-match their lineup after their opening set to give all 13 players on their roster some playing time.

That may have hurt Waipahu in the third set when there was a delay of nearly 10 minutes when the officials had to sort out the Marauders’ lineup and rotation.

But the home team was able to bounce back in the fourth set and put the match away after working out the kinks.

“Slowly we started to talk more to each other and we know we had to work together because first we were playing individually that set cause we kind of didn’t know what to do, but finally we talked to each other in the circle and we’re like we just have to calm down and do our best and bring it back.”

The Marauders will have another home game on Thursday night when they face Waialua in a rematch of last year’s OIA Division II title match. It will also be broadcasted live on Spectrum OC16.

‘Aiea will host Campbell that same night.

Mililani storms back to defeat visiting Nanakuli in four sets

Mililani storms back to defeat visiting Nanakuli in four sets

Sep 18, 2024

The Mililani girls volleyball team celebrates after a point against the Nanakuli Golden Hawks | Michael Lasquero

Mililani storms back to defeat visiting Nanakuli in four sets

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
PRINTABLE VERSION

MILILANI — It was a firework show in central Oahu Tuesday night.

The Mililani girls volleyball team showed off its offensive firepower with a four-set win over visiting Nanakuli in a 22-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-19 OIA West victory.

Five players had seven kills or more for the Trojans, who improved to 3-1 in the league standings.

With the balanced attack, freshman setter Keala Stephens took home HSRN’s “Grinder of the Game” award, which is presented by Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders Sandwich Shop. Stephens finished with 47 assists, 13 digs, four aces and had a hand in one block in the win.

It was also the Trojans’ second straight win since dropping a five-set match to Campbell last Tuesday.

“I think we really took that fire that was in us after losing that game against Campbell,” said Stephens. “I think we all knew how it felt finally and we didn’t want to feel that feeling again.”

Rylie Kaopuiki-Kaikaina had 13 kills, Kadence Wilson put down 12 kills and Krislynn Bergantinos had 10 kills and six blocks to round out the players with double-digit kills. Ivy Taylor and Alexandra Manuel also had nine and seven kills respectively for the Mililani offense.

The Trojans dominated the service line with 14 aces and also had seven blocks in the win.

The Golden Hawks (2-2), who dropped its second straight match, were led by Marley Matautia’s match-high 14 kills in the loss.

Kahuku falls to top in the country Mater Dei, 38-7

Kahuku falls to top in the country Mater Dei, 38-7

Sep 14, 2024

PHOTO BY ANDREW LEE

Kahuku falls to top team in the country Mater Dei, 38-7

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED SEPT 14, 2024

SCORING SUMMARY VIA SCORINGLIVE.COM
1ST QUARTER
MDEI 9:25   Joseph Gutierrez, 35 yard field goal.
MDEI 6:07   Aaryn Washington, 5 yard fumble return. (run failed)
2ND QUARTER
MDEI 4:32   Koen Parnell, 30 yard pass from Dash Beierly. (Mason Mejias pass to Manoah Leiato)
3RD QUARTER
MDEI 11:53   Abduall Sanders Jr. , 25 yard interception return. (Dominic Zante kick)
MDEI 7:29   Gavin Honore, 28 yard pass from D. Beierly. (D. Zante kick)
4TH QUARTER
KAH 5:26   Malosi Fiatoa, 1 yard run. (Manoa Kahalepuna kick)
KAH 2:14   Tomuhini Topui, 50 yard interception return. (D. Zante kick)

PHOTOS BY ANDREW LEE