KEALAKEKUA — The season got off on the right foot for two-time defending Division II state champion Konawaena on Wednesday as the Wildcats made quick work of west side rival Kealakehe in the first game of the regular season.
KEALAKEKUA — The season got off on the right foot for two-time defending Division II state champion Konawaena on Wednesday as the Wildcats made quick work of west side rival Kealakehe in the first game of the regular season.
Playing in the new best-of-three format, Konawaena rolled through the first set 25-8 before taking the second set behind mostly subs 25-18 at Ellison Onizuka Gym.
“We executed our plays well and we controlled the ball,” said junior setter Celena Molina. “We need to move our feet a little better off the blocks but overall we did well.”
The Wildcats jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set behind the service game of McKenna Ventura. Kealakehe struggled by hitting several balls into the net as Konawaena pulled away. A Ventura kill late in the set stopped a short Waverider rally and she followed with the final two points at serve to put the Wildcats up.
Konawaena made some substitutions in the second set and Kealakehe took advantage, going up 3-1 and then 7-3 behind the service game of Nicole Cristobal and an excellent block at the net by Nika Paogofie-Buyten.
After the point, the Wildcats put Chanelle Molina in, and despite playing with a hand injury, she was able to get Konawaena back on track. She immediately scored a point off a kill and then stepped to the line to cut the deficit to three.
After a little back-and-forth play, Ventura toed the line and sent a serve over to tie the game at 11. The Wildcats took their first lead of the second second off a kill down the line by Chanelle Molina to go up 15-14. With Ha’ena Keawekane serving, Konawaena increased its lead to four.
Up 23-18 after a Ventura second attempt kill, Alissa Nahale-Blanco put the game away on back-to-back serves, the final an ace in the middle of the court.
“We came out flat and I am sure that had to do with playing the returning state champions,” said Kealakehe coach Duke Hartfield. “In the second half we looked much better and more organized. It is early in the season and I am playing everybody.”
Kealakehe will be back in action on Tuesday when they play Keaau at home. Konawaena will head to Oahu on Thursday to compete in the prestigious Ann Kang Invitational hosted by Iolani. The tourney will include some of the best talent from Hawaii and the west coast of the mainland.
“We got our invite the day after states last year and we had to go because it is the best of the best,” said Konawaena coach Ainsley Keawekane. “For the kids who actually play club for me, they have seen this level of talent before, but the others this will be a new experience.”
The tournament starts Thursday and will run through Saturday.