For a moment early in Thursday’s loss to Kalaheo, the Leilehua girls volleyball team looked like world beaters.
Elisha Levasa cleverly pushed the ball all over the court as Leilehua compensated for Kalaheo’s height and athleticism.
The Lady Mules led the opening set 6-1 after Saramasina Docktor established her presence with a block and consecutive kills. Kalaheo rallied behind Siani Yamaguchi and took a 14-9 lead.
Leilehua regained the lead with kills and a block by Levasa. After an ace by Levasa, Leilehua led 24-19.
Then came kills by Violet Subee and Yamaguchi, and then a roof by Subee. After Yamaguchi’s fourth kill of the set, Lynch’s block tied the game at 24-all. The Mustangs went ahead on a kill by Riley Lynch and won game ball on a hitting error.
Leilehua again led early before Kalaheo came storming back in game 2. The Lady Mules had momentum after consecutive aces by Docktor. They led 22-21 after a Kalaheo hitting error, but the Mustangs got kills by Lynch (from Jayla DeCambra), Sanchez-Arellano and Masaki to take a 24-22 lead. Subee ended the set with a kill over the middle.
The third set was tied at 9-all when Kalaheo went on a 9-1 run. Two hitting errors and a net violation by the Lady Mules fueled Kalaheo’s run. Leilehua got no closer than six points after that.
Leilehua is still alive in the hunt for a state berth. The OIA has six of the 12 berths allotted by the HHSAA, which means the Lady Mules need to beat Aiea to qualify.
Go Mules !!!