There have been three standout volleyball-playing Morante brothers at Waiakea the past decade-plus, and each was molded from “Clay.”
Clayton Morante Jr. (2010 grad), and Clayson Morante (2016) each were all-star outside hitters for the Warriors, and Claymon Morante seamlessly filled the role this season.
Claymon did it with a dose of versatility. The junior is a longtime setter, and a nationally recognized one at that.
“I’m kind of stoked,” he said Tuesday of a role that he didn’t merely adopt. He thrived at it well enough to be the coaches’ choice as BIIF Division I boys volleyball player of the year.
Morante would be the first to admit this was not a special year for Waiakea. The Warriors won just one set in three meetings against Kamehameha, including a sweep in the BIIF final, and he spoke candidly to the Tribune-Herald after an HHSAA first-round loss at home to Roosevelt, saying, “Our team didn’t want it.”
“I was kind of surprised about player of the year, to be honest,” he said. “Kamehameha beat us three times. I thought someone from Kamehameha would get it.”
After missing his first two seasons because of the pandemic, Morante burst on to the scene and carried Waiakea as the sole player to make the all-BIIF first team.
“It kind of bummed me out that I didn’t have a chance to play my four full years of (high school) volleyball, like my brothers did,” he said.
Kamehameha had three selections: middle blocker Khayden Kahihikolo, outside hitter Glenn Kaimi Kealoha and setter Dorian Roque-Kuamoo. Each is a senior. Hilo middle Peyton Pana and Keaau middle Peter Watson III also were honored. Hilo’s Adam Tuifagu was the coach of the year.
Despite drawing the attention of every team’s block, Morante played well in big matches, combining to pound 41 kills against Kamehameha. To close the regular season, his 29 kills weren’t enough to solve Hilo, but he came back to the Vikings’ gym a week later and led the Warriors to victory, punctuating matters with a wicked jump-serve.
“They beat us on senior night, and we got them when it counted,” he said of his favorite moment of the season.
His Herculean effort in the state loss to the Roughriders included 29 kills and .389 hitting clip, with 18 assists and 18 digs.
“I know I put everything on the court,” he said Tuesday. “You can’t help that I can’t do everything.”
But he also likes to hold himself accountable to his teammates, taking the blame, for example, for a rough set in the BIIF semifinal win. His leadership traits came from his upbringing and were instilled in him by parents, Clayton and Pauline Morante, each a former volleyball player, and his brothers.
“My dad wanted to continue,” the “Clay”-theme, Claymon said.
He wasn’t forced to play the game, but at the same time he’s practically been playing since birth.
“I didn’t’ have to play volleyball, but I grew into the sport,” Claymon said. “My brothers played it and I just looked up to my brothers.
He’s been playing with Pilipaa since he was 10, primarily under Ecko Osorio, and considers himself a “true setter.”
“I’m not an outside hitter,” he said.
He just plays a good one when needed.
The two roles complement each other, though, and because of his background he’s evolved into well-rounded powerhouse for Waiakea.
“Since I was young, I guess I’m the quarterback of the team,” he said. “I have to set up the plays and be mindful of what the hitters hit. I needed to become a leader when I was young.”
With his Pilipaa club team primed to play at junior nationals in Las Vegas this summer, he’s hoping to attract the attention of college recruiters – at setter. It’s entirely possible he’ll be needed again at hitter during his senior season with Waiakea. Coached by Poli Olevao, the Warriors are only losing three players to graduation.
But setting is his future, and it’s provided him with his greatest highlight to date. He was a member of a national age-group team that won gold at the USA Volleyball High Performance championships in Florida in 2019.
“I love this sport,” he said.
No matter the position.
All-BIIF volleyball, Division I
Player of the year: Claymon Morante, Waiakea
Coach of the year: Adam Tuifagu, Hilo
First team
Khayden Kahihikolo 12 MB Kamehameha
Glenn Kaimi Kealoha 12 OH Kamehameha
Claymon Morante 11 OH Waiakea
Peyton Pana 10 MB Hilo
Dorian Roque-Kuamoo 12 S Kamehameha
Peter Watson III 12 MB Keaau
Second team
Juaren Bongadillo 12 Opp/Mid Kealakehe
Aukai Chu Hing 12 MB Hilo
Andrew-John Dolls 11 MB Waiakea
Joel Feliciano 12 MB Waiakea
Baily Gapusan 12 Def. Spec Keaau
Maluhia Tandal 9 OH/S Hilo
Kekona Ulu 10 OH Kealakehe
Micah Wana 11 OH Kamehameha
Honorable mention
Hilo: Kaumualii Harman (L); Kano Pana-Nathaniel (S); Walea Pe’a-Whitney (OH), Kawai Wilbur-Gabriel (OH/OP)
Kamehameha: Makena Aiona-Agra (L);
Keaau: Alfredo Gani (L); Owen Hernando (S); Tre Hill (OH); Joseph Lyman Jr (S)
Waiakea: Jayse Hayashi (S)
