By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
HONOLULU — Kamehameha fell a few points short of capturing the Division I state volleyball championship, but at least there was a consolation prize for coming so close to upsetting Punahou — the powerhouse with 30 titles in the tournament’s 44-year history.
Despite sophomore outside hitter Evan Enriques’ 42 kills, the Buffanblu prevailed over the Warriors 23-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-11, 15-13 at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament on Saturday, but exceeded expectations of a four-year plan.
Enriques was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Senior setter/hitter Daniel Aina Jr. also made the all-tourney team.
“Evan is just consistent. Night after night we go to him and he delivers,” Kamehameha coach Guy Enriques said. “It doesn’t matter what the situation is we can count on him. He makes mistakes but he doesn’t allow them to build up and compound. The team depends on him and he’s the rock for the team.”
Hawaii Prep senior outside hitter Keanu Yamamoto and senior middle blocker Tyler Van Kirk landed on the Division II all-tourney team, a nice representation for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.
“The heart the kids had, the belief in each other and the team, to keep calm with all the things going on, that’s what stood out the most,” Kamehameha coach Enriques said. “Their character got us where we are. The kids have a taste of states and they want nothing less. Evan would not allow us to settle for anything less.
“We set a goal every four years. Our goal this year was to finish in the top four, so we’re ahead of schedule. We want to be in the top two next year. Our plan in the fourth year is to win a state championship. We’re actually moving ahead of schedule.”
No coincidence that fourth year will also be the debut of Kamehameha seventh-grade twins Addison and Avery Enriques, two premium ball-handlers, to the varsity, joining Evan, who would be a senior, and Emmett, then a junior.
The four brothers would immediately upgrade the passing, especially serve-receive. There would be an ace passer in every rotation to cover all areas of the court.
But that’s two years of waiting. And for next season there are pressing issues. Namely replacing four senior starters in Aina, libero Ryan Thomas, hitter/setter DJ Grant-Johnson and middle Israel Trusdell.
The Warriors likely will most miss Aina for his versatility. He also took swings from the right side to diversify the offense, take pressure off the 6-foot-1 Enriques and open hitting lanes.
He was also the toughest server, hitting a top-spin sinker. Tough serving not only leads to aces and points but passing problems as well, something the Buffanblu showed. They had three aces, the Warriors none.
“We have two players for the setter position, Shannon Kanakaole, who will be a senior, and Emmett,” Guy Enriques said. “We’ll see how they develop. We could use a 6-2 offense and both could run the team. They have a lot of work to do in the offseason.”
Kamehameha will also miss Grant-Johnson, not only for his 6-3 size, ability to block at the net, and pound balls, but also for his intangibles.
“Replacing DJ will be really big shoes to fill and Israel really played an important part on the team,” the Kamehameha coach said. “Israel really turned it on in the second half of the season and made a big difference.
“DJ not only has skills, but he brought passion to the team. He just loves this sport. He has a scholarship for football (Navy) but he’d rather be playing volleyball. He lives and breathes volleyball. That’s his passion and he brought that to the team.”
Kamehameha is not the only BIIF team that will lose key senior starters. The league will look different next year whether there’s a Blue (stacked with the tougher teams) and Red division or a switch to the old cross-island format.
BIIF runner-up Waiakea, which beat Kamehameha-Kapalama for fifth, loses middles Ian Witten and Donovan Hoohuli and hitters Manny Malasaga and Cameron Boucher.
BIIF Division II champion HPA, which fell to champion Hawaii Baptists in the semifinals and took third, loses Van Kirk, Yamamoto, setter Kainoa Tanoai and hitter Junior Seid.
BIIF runner-up Kohala, which placed sixth, will be in rebuilding mode after graduation wipes out the roster. DJ Wong, Popo Roxburgh, Elias Hood, Kekoa Werner, setter Kulia Aveiro-Kalaniopio and libero Jory Ayoso-Fernandez are gone.
Pahoa, the BIIF’s No. 3 team and a two-match loser at states, is in the best shape. The Daggers lose only middle Raymond Kawaihalau-Baldonado. The top two hitters, Nick Fisher and Jarrett Kamaka, will be seniors next year.
Guy Enriques enjoyed the competition in the Blue division. The Warriors also strengthened themselves with two trips to Oahu and one to San Diego playing 11 matches.
“Playing in the Blue division made a difference,” he said. “We’ll be doing the Best of West San Diego trip every other year. Next year we have to look at other options, a third trip to Oahu.
“You’ve got to create a schedule that will create a championship team. That’s the bottom line if you want to get to states.”