By KEVIN JAKAHI Tribune-Herald sports writer ADVERTISING Kamehameha’s ball-control — a big reason a league title is always within reach from a carrot stick — gets better every time one of coach Guy Enriques’ sons joins his volleyball team. Last
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Kamehameha’s ball-control — a big reason a league title is always within reach from a carrot stick — gets better every time one of coach Guy Enriques’ sons joins his volleyball team.
Last season, Evan Enriques made his varsity debut, and his all-around skills landed him on the All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation first team and helped the Warriors to a league runner-up finish.
This year, the 6-foot-1 sophomore outside hitter will be joined by his 5-11 freshman brother Emmett. Their twin brothers Addison and Avery are Kamehameha seventh graders.
Like last season, the offense will run through Evan, who showed the polish to his game when he pounded 20 kills and hit .432 to carry the Warriors over No. 4 seed Baldwin in the quarterfinals at the Division I state tournament, where they finished fourth.
“Mainly, Evan gives us a lot of ball-control. He covers a lot of court,” Guy Enriques said. “He’s very consistent with ball-control stuff — passing, digging, keeping things alive. He has enough experience where he’s now vocal and vocal enough to point things out before they happen. He’s one of our firepowers.”
The Warriors lost the other half of last season’s one-two firepower punch when hitter/setter Kaehu Kaaa transferred to Kamehameha-Kapalama for his sophomore season.
“We’re trying to find a spot for Emmett,” the Kamehameha coach said. “In the summer, like Evan, when Emmett was playing for (USA Volleyball) High-Performance, we were pushing him toward setter. He’s never been in a setting role. Fortunately, we have other people who do that well enough.”
Enriques was talking about senior hitter/setter Daniel “Braddah Boy” Aina Jr., the foundation for the two-setter offense.
“Daniel’s a big key. He’s a leader, very solid and stable. He’s the best all-around setter in the league,” Enriques said. “He also provides a lot of firepower as a hitter. We have to find more balance, not rely on one or two players and spread the offense.”
DJ Grant-Johnson, Kamehameha’s football kicker, is the leading candidate to fill Kaaa’s spot as the other left-side hitter. He was the backup to libero Ryan Thomas last season and saw action as a defender.
Enriques pointed to Grant-Johnson’s enthusiasm as a valuable weapon, while crossing his fingers the enlisted Naval Academy recruit, who’ll kick for the football team, doesn’t get hurt.
“I know kicking is his bread-and-butter, but he loves this game,” Enriques said. “His love for the game is written all over this face. He’ll do very well for us.”
The Enriques brothers will be primary passers, along with Thomas, which means clean passes to the setter will be clockwork. That’s because passing is really Evan and Emmett’s bread-and-butter.
The USA Volleyball High Performance program is basically a farm system for the national team, serving either the junior squad or the one that competes in the Olympics. It’s competition at its finest on a national level.
It also makes Evan, Emmett and Kamehameha better.
“They were invited to the High Performance last Christmas and spent a week there,” Enriques said. “At that level, Evan at 6-1 is small. That’s an advantage for us because when he plays at that level we don’t have to worry about his ball-control. Then he has nine months of hitting with his Oahu club team.”
Besides Aina, Evan and Thomas, the other returning starter is 6-0 junior middle Kaipo Woolsey. He could move to an outside hitting spot, opening up playing time for middles Israel Trusdell and Kaeo Alapai, who both saw action last year. Alapai just finished his run with the basketball team.
As usual, Kamehameha and Waiakea, the defending BIIF Division I champion, will likely battle each other for the title. They faced off the last six years. On the scoreboard count, Kamehameha has won four crowns, Waiakea the other two.
Waiakea returns three starters in 6-4 middle Ian Witten, 6-2 middle Donovan Hoohuli and 6-0 outside hitter Mamane Namahoe, another all-around talent with High Performance experience.
The two rivals meet twice in the round-robin format. The first showdown is March 19 at Waiakea. Until then the two will keep sharpening their swords.
Ball-control may be Kamehameha’s strength, but senior-laden enthusiasm is running a close second. Enriques noted the contributions from Thomas, one four seniors expected to start, along with Aina, Grant-Johnson, and Trusdell.
“Ryan is a solid libero and is doing very well,” Enriques said. “He’s gotten a lot more aggressive and is popping up a lot more balls. He’s more verbal. That’s what you want from your libero — to light a fire under everybody.”
