Greg Yamamoto | SL

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WAIALAE — Kalaheo rallied back after dropping its first set in four matches to improve to 7-2 in front of a lively Kalani crowd Wednesday night. 

Giuliana Irvine and Samantha Pollard combined for 13 kills and 15 digs to help the Mustangs beat the Falcons.

Kalani started the game strong and dealt the Mustangs their first set lost in four matches. However, the Mustangs would not fold as they claimed the second set 25-23, to force a third game, and kept the momentum flowing as they captured the final set with a decisive 15-7 victory.

"They (Kalani) definitely did their homework on my team," said Kalaheo coach Roberta Downey. "They definitely blocked well. They stopped Enna (Syenna Masaki), our bigger hitter, and no matter what my girls hit they (Kalani) dug every ball. They played really well and showed that they wanted it but my girls adjusted to try and open up Enna but to also give other girls on the team a chance and ultimately it worked."

Downey mentioned, and also stressed to her girls in multiple timeouts, that defense would win them the game and to not let the game get away from them too early.

"It was important for us to stay with them. They went up three early (in the first set) but we came right back with a run of our own scoring two, but we were right with them the whole time. So that was important to us."

Syenna Masaki finished the game with five kills, one solo block, two aces, two assists, and 13 digs, but it was Pollard and Irvine who lead the Mustangs in kills with seven and six respectively. Irvine also had 13 digs for a solid-two way performance.

"We all knew that this was a must-win game," said Irvine. "We all just wanted it so bad. They were digging all of our balls in the first but we changed that in the second and third sets to come away with it."

The Falcons were led by Jazlyn Bulatao, who had seven kills. Ashley Wang led the team in digs with 20 and setter Kelsie Nakashima lead the team in assists with 17. 

Kalani's home crowd came to support as its cheers pushed them the Falcons to a first set victory, but it was Kalaheo's junior varsity and white teams, along with the Kalaheo faithful, that got loud in the second frame to fuel their girls to victory. 

"Whether they win on the court or not I am very proud of them because the ones on the side cheer their hearts out, encourage the girls to do well, the JV and white teams cheer for the girls and the ones on the court play for them, play for each other, and play to represent Kalaheo." said Downey.

With the win Kalaheo enters a tie for third with Farrington at 7-2 in the Oahu Interscholastic Associations Eastern division. Both teams are two games behind division leader Kahuku (9-0) and one game behind Moanalua (8-1). 

Kalani falls to 5-4 on the season along and will face Roosevelt (5-4) next Monday.

Kalaheo will host Kaiser at home next week Monday and Farrington on Wednesday, which could potentially be a divisional tie-breaker game.