Talia Soliai-Tui and Haley Kotobalavu had eight kills each as the No. 4-ranked Kahuku volleyball team swept Roosevelt 25-12, 25-23, 25-19 on Wednesday night at the Rough Riders’ shiny new gym.
Kahuku improved to 7-2 in OIA East play, sealing second place and an automatic first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs. The Lady Raiders host Farrington on Monday to close the regular season. Roosevelt fell to 6-3 in league play and will host Moanalua on Monday in a regular-season finale.
Soliai-Tui’s comeback from a knee injury is on track. The 6-foot senior isn’t playing all six rotations, but her power, finesse, skills and IQ are major asset for Kahuku.
“Roosevelt’s defense came up big in the second and third sets, picking up balls, the one-hand touches. Very good,” Kahuku coach Lesina Manutai said. “I’m trying to work everyone and see what kind of combinations I can do now that I’ve got everyone 100%.”
Aleijah Adolpho tallied seven kills, Bella Todd-Purcell had six kills and Ana Kaufusi tallied five kills. Makamae Schilling had four kills and one ace. Schilling, who battled a leg injury early in the season, sat out the opening set.
Setter Ireson Fotu dished 20 assists, adding two aces and one kill. Anny Scott dished 15 assists and also tallied two aces and one kill.
Junior outside hitter Kaycie Garnett finished with a team-high eight kills for Roosevelt despite not having one in the first game. Hilina‘i Kahawai added five kills from the middle. Sanoe Holani-Frank dished eight assists and Zaylee Hunziker dished seven.
“Our girls just got to settle in a lot quicker, from the beginning. We changed up the lineup (after the first set) a little to see if there would be a spark from another player. We switched our oppo and we put in another DS (defensive specialist),” Roosevelt coach Jarin Lubong said.
Roosevelt has losses only to powerhouses Moanalua and Kahuku. The Rough Riders have gone 6-0 against the rest of the East.
“Third in the East is a big accomplishment for our girls, especially in Division I. We want to compete with the best and Kahuku is one of the best,” Lubong said. “Kahuku is well-coached, well-disciplined and they play hard.”
The home team had a 4-3 lead in the opening set. With Ireson Fotu at serve, the visitors went on a 4-0 run, getting an ace from Fotu and two kills by Adolpho.
That sparked a longer run that included two aces by Anny Scott.
By the end of the first set, Adolpho had a team-high four sets and Kotobalavu had three.
Kahuku seemed on the verge of a runaway in the second set. Another ace by Fotu helped Kahuku open a 6-3 lead.
Roosevelt charged back, handling Kahuku’s serve more effectively. An ace by Garnett and another by Kahawai helped Roosevelt go on a 15-8 run.
Down 18-14, the Lady Raiders remained composed and tied it at 18. Roosevelt scored the next two points, but Kahuku went on a 7-3 run. Tied at 21, the Rough Riders had a hitting error and a service error, allowing Kahuku to take a 23-22 lead. A roof by Soliai-Tui on Adrian Otto and a kill by Kaufusi ended the second set.
Kahuku opened and sustained a small lead through the third set. Roosevelt was within 17-14 after Aiyana Itoga roofed Schilling, but the Rough Riders got no closer.
Kahuku defeated Roosevelt 21-7, 21-15 in the junior varsity match.
In the White Division matchup, Kahuku won 21-5, 21-10.
Pin posts: Kamehameha moved up two spots to No. 47 in the new MaxPreps national rankings. ‘Iolani is No. 7 in the same rankings.
