King Kekaulike played a dominating game against the Kamehameha Maui girls volleyball Warriors last night. It was, without a doubt, the most intense game in the Maui Interscholastic League this season.

King Kekaulike was the KSM Warriorsʻ top competition as they both headed into the match undefeated, 2-0, at King Kekaulikeʻs gymnasium. Nā Ali’i came out the winner, 3-0, in a heated contest.

“We played a good game. Kamehameha came ready to play as they are a very scrappy team,” said  Coach Al Paschoal, head coach for King Kekaulike.

This yearʻs Warriors are indeed “scrappy,” as they put up a fight and improved with every set, but their youth showed (the team is made up of 6 juniors, and the rest of the athletes are underclassmen) against a team that was fueled by a gymnasium packed with cheering, pom pom waving Nā Ali’i supporters, who came out to see the battle.

“I know they’re young, but they played way above their ages,” Coach Paschoal said.

Junior Treyanna-Lee Freitas on the Kekaulike team was their go-to player and outside hitter, her coach said, and she showed no mercy in Thursday night’s game against the Warriors with kill after kill at the net.

“I feel that we played good, and they’re a tough team,” Treyanna-Lee said. She also said that the huge showing and sometimes deafening support of the crowd, motivated her to make as many kills as she did.

King Kekaulike topped the Warriors, keeping a steady lead in the first set and winning, 25-13.

As the game progressed the Warriors turned it up during the second set, adding more points to the board for a final score of 25-18.  It wasn’t enough however to beat Kekaulike girls.The second set began with the Warriors in the lead, putting up many points on King Kekaulike hitting errors, but once Nā Ali’i took the lead at 18-17, the Warriors quickly fell behind after a string of points given up due to touching the net.

The Warriors refused to throw in the towel as they entered the third set where they almost turned the game around. Kamehameha held a nine point advantage over Nā Aliʻi who appeared frazzled by the fresh Warrior effort, but they buckled down during the final points of the set.  The two opposing teams rallied it out until the very end, buoyed by the uproar of fans who cheered them on from the bleachers. The game wrapped up with Kekaulike leading by two points, ending the game at 25-23.

Itʻs going to be an intense season as the Warriors chase down the MIL title. Catch them in their next game at home against Baldwin High School, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Photo by Ashley Morishita

Junior Danielle Brown hustles to keep ball in play.