WAIMEA – The Pearl City High School boys’ volleyball team arrived and played their first game – 25-21, 28-26 and 25-19 – against the Waimea High School varsity team Thursday night at Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea.
Earlier in the evening, Junior Varsity Waimea controlled the JV Chargers, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-16.
Pearl City, an Interscholastic Federation of O’ahu Division II team, continues its journey around Kaua’i with games scheduled against Kaua’i, Kapa’a, and Island High Schools before departing.
“This trip has been planned for three years,” said Pearl City coach Sean Chang. “We played Kapa’a in the state tournament a few times and wanted to play against the other Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation teams as well. When we were ready to come, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The wait was long.
The Chargers take on Kaua’i High School at the Kaua’i High School gymnasium on Friday with the JV contest at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity game.
On Saturday, the Chargers do a double-header starting with their fight against Kapa’a at Bernice Hundley Gym when the JV contest kicks off at 9 a.m., followed by the varsity contest. The Chargers wrap up their Kaua’i tour on Saturday night by heading to Wilcox Gymnasium on the island school campus, where the JV wraps up at 5 p.m. and the varsity contest against the Voyagers follows.
In addition to Pearl City coming to visit the island, Lynx basketball coach Clarence Sales announced that Elite Artistry’s coal Bri Ramos, an O’ahu team, and Maui Sparks coach Vitor Aguirre will participate in a tournament. at 6 teams for Girls 8th Grade Under, starting Friday afternoon at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
Participating teams from Kaua’i include Sales’ Lynx, the Ballers with coach Ron Miura, the Hoopstars with coach John Quinones, and Westside with coach Jason Peralta.
The tournament begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the Elite Artistry and Maui Sparks at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday play begins at 8 a.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. The championship contest is due to start on Sunday at 1 p.m.
On the Clem Gomes arena, the Chargers and Menehune traded points throughout the first set, with the Chargers not allowing the Menehune to get closer than two points. Leading 18-16, the Chargers took over on hits from Sebastian Buell-Galo, Christian Ronquilio, Sile Sataraka, and despite responding hammers from Menehune Ty Tsukayama and Kelani Lewis, Waimea stumbled on a hitting error to close the and.
With renewed confidence, Waimea opened the second set to create a five-point buffer on a Pearl City service error. The Chargers responded by shooting back-to-back shots from Keahi Kaneakua within one shot for Waimea’s hammer Isaiah Espanto to return. A clean Menehune violation tied the contest, 18-18 from where the Chargers took the lead and sealed the deal on Menehune’s errors.
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Denis Fujimotowriter and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.