The Lady Raiders of Kahuku are better now.
Happy, not quite. The long ride home from Moanalua gym after a four-set semifinal loss to unbeaten Mililani won’t ease the pain, but No. 6 Kahuku is not the same team it was at midseason.
Coach Tuli Tevaga can recall a fairly frustrating night at Moanalua, when her team was still finding chemistry. This time, down 2-1, Kahuku led No. 4 Mililani 20-14 in the fourth set. The match felt destined to go the maximum five.
Mililani’s 25-22, 25-17, 16-25, 25-23 win was so close to going the other way.
“I guess as a coach, I know they can do better. We fell short tonight, but we can only prepare for what’s to come in the state tournament,” Tevaga said. “The fighting spirit had a lot to do with it and brought momentum back to them. That’s probably a highlight for us.”
Senior Savannah Taosoga led Kahuku (9-2) with 18 kills. Sophomore Emma Mapu added nine kills and three blocks, and junior Mela Liua had seven kills and two aces. Sophomore Makayla Fonoimoana-Vaomu added three kills and two aces.
Kahuku (9-2) will play Kapolei for third place on Tuesday.
“All we can do is trust the training, we make adjustments. Not new adjustments. It’s all about making the change,” Tevaga said. “We’ve got to get ready for the state tournament.”
The New City Nissan/HHSAA State Championships will begin next Monday.
Division I
| Match # | Date | Matchup | Time/Scores | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 9 | Kalaheo (E5) vs. Nanakuli (W4) | Nan 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 | Farrington |
| 2 | Oct. 9 | Leilehua (W6) vs. Farrington (E3) | Far 25-13, 26-24, 25-13 | Farrington |
| 3 | Oct. 9 | Kaiser (E4) vs. Aiea (W5) | Kais 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 | Waianae |
| 4 | Oct. 9 | Waianae (W3) vs. Roosevelt (E6) | Wain 25-15, 25-18, 25-23 | Waianae |
| 5 | Oct. 10 | Kapolei (W2) vs. Farrington | Kapo 25-13, 22-25, 27-25, 25-11 | Moanalua |
| 6 | Oct. 10 | Moanalua (E1) vs. Nanakuli | Moan 25-15, 25-16, 25-12 | Moanalua |
| 7 | Oct. 10 | Kahuku (E2) vs. Waianae | Kah 25-18, 25-15, 25-14 | Mililani |
| 8 | Oct. 10 | Mililani (W1) vs. Kaiser | Mil 25-9, 25-17, 25-14 | Mililani |
| 9* | Oct. 14 | Farrington vs. Nanakuli | Far 26-28, 18-25, 25-12, 25-21, 18-16 | Kalani |
| 10* | Oct. 14 | Waianae vs. Kaiser | Wain 3-0 | Kalani |
| 11 | Oct. 14 | Kapolei vs. Moanalua | Moan 25-18, 25-22, 25-19 | Moanalua |
| 12 | Oct. 14 | Kahuku vs. Mililani | Mil 25-22, 25-17, 16-25, 25-23 | Moanalua |
| 13* | Oct. 15 | Farrington vs. Waianae | Wain 25-18, 25-13, 15-24, 20-25, 15-12 | Farrington |
| 14* | Oct. 15 | Kapolei vs. Kahuku | Kapo, 3-2 | Farrington |
| 15 | Oct. 16 | Moanalua vs. Mililani | Mil 15-25, 28-26, 25-14, 21-25, 15-10 | Moanalua |
| * — consolation | ||||
Division II
| Match # | Date | Matchup | Time/Scores | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 9 | Kalani (E2) vs. Waialua (W3) | Kaln 25-23, 25-12, 25-14 | Pearl City |
| 2 | Oct. 9 | Pearl City (W2) vs. Kailua (E3) | PC 27-25, 25-7, 25-13 | Pearl City |
| 3 | Oct. 10 | Campbell (W1) vs. Kalani | Kaln 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 | McKinley |
| 4 | Oct. 10 | McKinley (E1) vs. Pearl City | PC 25-18, 25-21, 14-25, 25-19 | McKinley |
| 5 | Oct. 16 | Kalani vs. Pearl City | PC 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 | Moanalua |
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