By MATT GERHART By MATT GERHART ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer Things were proceeding exactly according to plan for the Kamehameha boys volleyball team. The Warriors quickly won the first two sets Saturday against Hilo, then coach Guy Enriques inserted his
By MATT GERHART
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Things were proceeding exactly according to plan for the Kamehameha boys volleyball team.
The Warriors quickly won the first two sets Saturday against Hilo, then coach Guy Enriques inserted his reserve unit into the match as the starters received their customary Game 3 breather. But with Vikings hanging around in the fourth set and threatening to extend the match to a decisive game, Enriques told his starters he was ready to flip the script.
“We were struggling,” Enriques said. “At 18-18, I told them if you lose this game, you’re sitting out the fifth game.
“Right away, boom, we’re at 25.”
Led by Evan Enriques, Kamehameha put the finishing touches on an unbeaten Big Island Interscholastic Federation regular season with a 25-13, 25-16, 17-25, 25-21 victory at Hilo Armory.
“We had to do what we had to do. … or else,” Evan Enriques said after he smashed four of his team-high 13 kills during the game-ending spurt that finally put away Hilo. “You just don’t what to risk it. You sit out and get cold and lose focus, but the trick is to come back in Game 4 and try to win it. I think it’s good that we got that sense of pressure.”
Senior setter Daniel Aina Jr. registered nine kills and senior middle blockers DJ Grant-Johnson and Israel Trusdell posted six and five, respectively, for Kamehameha (14-0). The only time the Warriors’ starting unit has dropped a set this season was during a five-game victory April 9 at Hawaii Prep.
Despite being keyed on by Kamehameha’s block, Makoa Tandal finished with a match-high 15 kills for Hilo (4-10). The junior was a terror in Game 3 against Kamehameha’s smaller reserves, a lineup that Guy Enriques likes to put into some matches once his team goes ahead 2-0 — both with an eye to the future and to keep his team sharp.
Largely untested in the BIIF, Kamehameha traveled to California earlier in the season and has since made two trips to Oahu to step up its level of competition.
“It’s been really hard finding competition,” said Evan Enriques, a sophomore outside hitter. “We’ve been doing what we do best, which is playing our game. The (trips) really help us get another level of experience and prepare us for states, and that’s our main goal.”
The Warriors can earn a berth at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament with a win against Kealakehe (2-12) at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the BIIF semifinals at Konawaena High School. Waiakea (12-2) and Hilo follow in the 7 p.m. semifinal. The final is 7 p.m. Saturday in Kealakekua.
Guy Enriques said Kamehameha’s biggest challenge of late was dealing with what he called “a severe team illness” that’s inflicted 11 of his 18 players. Kamehameha, which was healthy when it swept Waiakea twice during the season, is scheduled to hold its first full practice in three weeks Monday.
Aina and Emmett Enriques each finished with three service aces for Kamehameha and libero Ryan Thomas had four digs.
Hilo was hurt by five service errors in Game 1.
Ahead 18-13, Kamehameha reeled off 15 consecutive points spanning the first and second sets.
Senior Destrey Kim added seven kills for Hilo, and seniors Wan Anjel and Sheldon Falealo-Timu each added four.
Pahoa loses twice
Kohala beat visiting Pahoa in four sets to finish off a 10-4 season in the Blue Division, earning the top seed in the 10-team Division II tournament and a home match against either No. 9 St. Joseph (3-11 Red) or No. 8 Hualalai (6-8 Red) when the quarterfinals are held at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The Daggers (6-8 Blue) also lost a coin flip Saturday to decide a tiebreaker with Konawaena (9-5 Red), and as the seventh seed Pahoa will host No. 10 Laupahoehoe (3-11 Red) in a 6 p.m. first-round match Tuesday. The winner visits second-seeded Honokaa (13-1 Red) in the quarterfinals.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats visit third-seeded Hawaii Prep (8-6) in the quarterfinals.
Ka‘u and Christian Liberty both finished with 11-3 records in the Red Division and split their two meetings, but the Trojans will host their quarterfinal based on winning a head-to-head points tiebreaker.
Note: For seeding purposes, teams in the Blue Division had their winning percentages multiplied by 1.5.
Standings
Blue Division
Division I W-L
Kamehameha 14-0
Waiakea 12-2
Hilo 4-10
Kealakehe 2-12
Keaau 0-14
Division II
Kohala 10-4
Hawaii Prep 8-6
Pahoa 6-8
Red Division
Division II
Honokaa 13-1
Ka‘u 11-3
C-Liberty 11-3
Konawaena 9-5
Hualalai 6-8
St. Joseph 3-11
Laupahoehoe 3-11
Parker 0-14
Saturday’s results
Kamehameha def. Hilo 25-13, 25-16, 17-25, 25-21
C-Liberty def. St. Joe 25-12, 23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-13
Kohala def. Pahoa 25-23, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19
JV: Kohala wins 25-20, 25-14
Waiakea def. Kealakehe 25-18, 25-18, 25-14
Playoffs
Tuesday
Division II
First round
St. Joseph vs. Hualalai, 6 p.m. at Konawaena
Laupahoehoe at Pahoa, 6 p.m.
Wednesday
Division II
Quarterfinals
Game 1: St. Joe-Hualalai winner at Kohala, 6 p.m.
Game 2: Laupahoehoe-Pahoa winner at Honokaa, 6 p.m.
Game 3: Konawaena at HPA, 6 p.m.
Game 4: C-Liberty at Ka‘u, 6 p.m.
At Konawaena High School
Friday
Semifinals
Division II
Game 1 vs. Game 4 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2 vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Division I
Kamehameha vs. Kealakehe, 5:30 p.m.
Waiakea vs. Hilo, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Division II third place, 4 p.m.
Division II final, 5:30 p.m.
Division I final, 7 p.m.
