‘Iolani too much for Kapolei in state boys volleyball

The ‘Iolani Raiders proved to be one of the few teams hotter than the Kapolei Hurricanes.

The ’Canes rose from a fourth-place finish in the OIA West to reach the state tourney, knocking out the top team in their division, Waianae, in the playoffs. However, ‘Iolani was simply too consistent, too deep and, thanks to setter Shane Harimoto, too loaded from every spot on the floor in a 25-17, 25-9, 25-21 win on Monday night in the opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships.

A crowd of about 150 at Father Bray Athletic Complex saw the ILH runner-up Raiders advance to Thursday’s quarterfinal round. ‘Iolani (11-4) will play MIL champion Kamehameha-Maui, the No. 3 seed, in a 5 p.m. match at McKinley.

Harimoto dished 35 assists to a smorgasbord of weapons. Three Raiders — Ryan Van Cantfort, Cole Hogland and Kawika Lee — pounded 11 kills each. Kilo Scanlan added eight kills and a block, all at the middle.

Ezra Lono-Soares had seven kills, David Salima had six and Zechariah Kanahele-Mone added four for Kapolei (8-7). Gavin Andaya had 10 assists and Elijah Monderen-Wofford distributed six assists.

It was ‘Iolani’s serve that was possibly the biggest factor in negating Kapolei’s normally tenacious attack.

“I don’t know if it was good. We had some service errors, and I’m OK with some, but we’ve got to work on it,” Raiders coach Jordan Inafuku said. “We’re definitely trying to turn up service pressure and find the right balance.”

‘Iolani finished with six aces and nine service errors. Kapolei had no aces and four service errors.

“You know what, they fought, always to the end,” Hurricanes coach Moani Mahelona said. “I’m proud of our team. ‘Iolani is a great team. They got us playing at the speed we want to play at. We know what to look forward to (next year).”

The Raiders took a quick 3-0 lead and did not trail in the opening set, using middles Scanlan and Hogland for a combined five kills to open a 14-10 lead.

The visitors stayed close. The connection from setter Monderen-Wofford to Salima was good for three kills midway through. After 6-foot-3 Kaimana Rodrigues roofed Lee, the Hurricanes were within 16-14.

The Raiders responded with strong serving, and Van Cantfort’s back-row kill and a double-touch violation on Andaya, ‘Iolani led 20-15. Ethan Wescoatt’s ace opened the lead to six points.

Hogland won a joust against Lono-Soares, then drilled a right-side kill before Lee’s ace opened the lead to 24-16. Van Cantfort put the game away on a left-side kill.

The second set began with more of the same: two hitting errors and a service error by the ’Canes, and a kill by Hogland from the middle as the home team opened a 6-2 lead. After another hitting error, then a lift, and then a rotation violation, the visitors trailed 12-4.

Then came a Harimoto ace, point-blank spikes by Scanlan and Van Cantfort, and after a back-row kill by Lee, it was 16-4. Inafuku sent backup setter Trevor Tamura into the game (six assists) as the Raiders coasted to a 2-0 lead in the match.

Kapolei settled down and played its best in the third set, taking a 9-8 lead on a Rodrigues roof. They hung close, but the Raiders took a 16-15 lead on a Lee kill. Hogland was instrumental, with three kills and an ace as the Raiders opened a 23-18 lead. The Raiders finished the set with an 11-5 run.

Mililani 3, Maui 1

Nathaniel Johnson had 19 kills and Chance Guillermo recorded seven kills, 24 assists, four aces and 11 digs as the visiting Trojans beat the Sabers 25-17, 25-20, 19-25, 25-17.

Caleb Pascual added eight kills and Trent Matsuba had 19 digs for Mililani (11-3), which will play No. 1 seed Punahou on Thursday. Julius Benavidez had 13 kills and Denniel Carreon added 26 assists and 13 digs for Maui High (8-8).

Kamehameha-Hawaii 3, Waianae 2

Isaiah Nakoa-Oness had 23 kills and Nalu Kahapea added 21 as the host Warriors beat the Seariders 25-27, 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 18-16.

Davin Masanda recorded 55 assists and Kamaha‘o Kawelu had 24 digs for Kamehameha-Hawaii (13-3).

Blaze Kahikina registered 21 kills and Joshua Santana-Kaio had 51 assists for Waianae (11-3).

Waipahu 3, Kaiser 2

Bradley Tacata had 22 kills and Ken Sachio Boctot 14 in the visiting Marauders’ victory over the Cougars.

Craig Agni recorded 21 digs for Waipahu (11-4).

Jacob Summers had 20 kills and Dylan Poon and Kahea Kamalani each added 11 for Kaiser (12-3).