HILO — On Monday evening, the Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i boys varsity volleyball team defeated Hilo High School for the second time since Friday — winning 3-1 and reinforcing its midseason dominance of BIIF Division I.
Friday saw the Warriors sweep the Vikings — whereas on Monday, Hilo fought back harder with a first-set victory of 25-22. The score bounced back and forth until short of the 20-point mark, when the Vikings began to establish a small lead. KSH began to close in, trailing 22-21 — but two big blocks by the Hilo front line took the Vikings to set point. A wide spike from the Warriors ended the set.
KSH returned with a second-set win to tie the score. The second set was much like the first — neck and neck all the way through. The Warriors maintained a minute lead as they climbed toward set point, and briefly pulled away as they closed the set out 25-21.
The third set was also tight — until the mid teens, when KSH’s front line went into overdrive, repeatedly making blocks and kills for points. Hilo fell further behind as its momentum faded, until the Warriors took the set 25-15.
In the fourth set, KSH established an early lead which the Vikings struggled to close in on. As the Warriors reached double digits, they zoomed away from Hilo and for a moment, led by nine points. The Vikings regained some ground, but ultimately fell 25-17.
Micah Wana led KSH in kills with 18 – trailed by Andrew Boshard with 11, and Nauhi Liwis and Kullen Pua with ten each.
Makena Aiona-Agra led the Warriors’ defense with 12 digs.
Now 6-0, KSH firmly holds the No.1 standing in BIIF Division I. The Warriors will travel at 5 p.m. tonight to Kealakehe High School to take on the Waveriders for the third time this season. KSH swept Kealakehe in the pair’s last two meetings.
Hilo will head across town at 5 p.m. tonight for its third matchup against Waiakea High School.
The Vikings also swept the Warriors in their previous encounters this season, but WHS may play with newfound confidence after taking KSH to the fifth set and narrowly losing 16-14 last week.
