On the volleyball court, Tevita Lavaka is a man of few words.
His game speaks for itself.
“He leads by example,” said Konawaena head coach August Dias. “He was willing to do whatever it takes to help the team.”
After leading Konawaena to its first BIIF championship since 2016, the senior middle blocker was the clear choice as the BIIF Division II boys volleyball player of the year.
“I feel so honored to be named the player of the year,” said Lavaka. “I’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this sport, and I’ve given it everything that I could possibly give. To have that under my name is incredible, such an unreal feeling.”
“He deserves it more than anyone out there,” added Dias. “I’m just so proud of him.”
The Wildcats went a perfect 9-0 in BIIF play, including sweeps over Hawaii Prep and Pahoa in the BIIF tournament to claim the title. Lavaka was a constant threat as the focal point of Konawaena’s offense, racking up 162 kills throughout the season. His greatest strength, however, may have been on the other side of the net.
“His blocking got a lot better this year; he worked really hard on his blocking,” Dias said of Lavaka’s growth as a senior. “This year, he worked on pressing low and tight, and he really mastered it.”
In addition to leading the team in kills, Lavaka also notched a team-high 39 blocks on the year, including four in the team’s final game of the year against Le Jardin at the Blaisdell Center in the fifth-place game at the HHSAA state tournament.
The Wildcats were impressive on Oahu in the state tournament, going 2-1 to take fifth place, with their only loss coming in a five-set thriller against the eventual champ Pearl City.
“It wasn’t really the outcome that we wanted, but it was an amazing game we played,” said Lavaka. “I’m proud of my team and what we’ve accomplished.”
Lavaka is joined by a pair of Wildcats – senior outside hitter Exon Pimentero and sophomore setter Travis Nakamoto – as first-team all-BIIF selections. Also being honored on the first team are Christian Liberty’s Jeremiah Becker, Kohala’s Laakea Kauka, Hawaii Prep’s Sam Landers and Kau’s Keliikoa Reyes-Naki. Pahoa’s Kahea Rodrigues was selected as coach of the year.
Konawaena’s rise to the top of the BIIF may have come as a surprise to some, but not those within the program. The last time the Wildcats were on the court – early in 2020 before that season was canceled – Lavaka felt the team had the potential to be special.
“My expectations were, of course, winning a championship,” he said. “Those few games we had, I feel like we really clicked… That gave me a huge confidence boost; if we were to have a season, we could do what we plan on doing, which is win.”
Surrounding a core of seniors including Lavaka, Pimentero and Allred, a young team that started a freshman and a sophomore ultimately found its identity as an energetic group who proved difficult to stop once they gained momentum.
“I think that’s something my team does very well,” said Lavaka. “We just go out, have a great time, and play our game.”
Even with a BIIF championship and the player of the year honor in tow, Konawaena’s soft-spoken leader still has little need to boast about his accomplishments.
His game has said it all.
All-BIIF volleyball, Division II
Player of the year: Tevita Lavaka, Konawaena
Coach of the year: Kahea Rodrigues, Pahoa
First team
Jeremiah Becker 12 MB Christian Liberty
Laakea Kauka 12 MB/OH Kohala
Sam Landers 11 OH Hawaii Prep
Tevita Lavaka 12 MB Konawaena
Travis Nakamoto 10 S Konawaena
Exon Pimentero 12 OH Konawaena
Keliikoa Reyes-Naki 12 MB Kau
Second team
Aidan Allred 12 OH Konawaena
Jonathan Babino 12 MB Honokaa
Micah Espejo 12 Opp/MB Kau
Kailen Kamakeeaina 11 MB Pahoa
Christian Lee 11 OH Christian Liberty
Braeden Samura 12 MB Hawaii Prep
Bear Wawner 12 S Hawaii Prep
Honorable Mention
Christian Liberty: Judah Shrinski (MB); Caleb Vogt (OH)
Honokaa: Sherwin Acob (S); Mark Gelidon (L)
Kau: Kelson Gallano (S); Tyson Kuahuia-Faafia (MB/OH)
Konawaena: Mana Dias-Elderts (OPP); Fabian Ruiz (L); Pomai Santana-Keka (MB)
Pahoa: Christian Funes (L); Jheyden Haili (S); J-Boy Kaawaloa-Alidon (MB), Rafael Medina (OH); Uasi Tokelau (OH)