Kamehameha shows reserve power

A few nervous moments for Kamehameha were worth the seasoning in states for the Warriors’ second unit.

The Warriors of Kapalama rolled deep to top Kahuku 25-14, 25-18, 25-23 in a first-round matchup of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships on Friday at Kalani High.

Kamehameha coach Kainoa Downing found work for players up and down his 17-man roster. He got 15 kills from top hitter Kaehu Kaaa, but largely trusted his reserves in the third and deciding game — even when the Red Raiders threatened to prolong the match with a 22-18 lead. Kamehameha went on a 7-1 run to close it out.

"You know, it’s important to honor our ‘B’ guys, because without them our ‘A’ guys don’t get pushed every day in and day out at practice," Downing said. "So I got them in, and I left them in. They had to come through, and they did."

The ILH runner-up Warriors now depart for the Big Island around noon Saturday to play at sister school Kamehameha-Hawaii, the BIIF champion and third seed, at 3 p.m.

These Warriors (9-3) had little trouble getting to 25 on Kahuku in the first two frames, with Kaaa lobbing an ace to cap a 9-1 run to secure Game 1 and then slamming home a kill to end Game 2.

Third-string setter Jacob Panee, a sophomore, was handed the keys to the offense for Game 3. Panee wound up tying for team-high assist honors with 12 and helped the Warriors finish with 10 players notching kills.

Downing’s reserves even waved off their coach when he stood up to take a timeout trailing late.

"I think it was a good gift for them, because they come out every day and work hard at practice," said Kaaa, who had three aces. "So, I feel like they should have a chance to play. Especially in these times when maybe we won’t be able to get them in in the tough games. So we can use these games to get them in and get them some playing time for next year."

It should indeed be a tough match at KS-Hawaii, which features talented senior hitter Evan Enriques.

"Oh, God," Downing said of the matchup. "You know, it’s gonna be a fantastic match. They got, if not the best player in the state, or the whole MVP of the whole state, in Evan Enriques. Emmett, his younger brother, is a great player. The two younger (Enriques) brothers (Avery and Addison) setting. They’re at home, we gotta travel. You know" — he paused — "it’s going to be interesting."

Kahuku (8-8), the OIA’s fourth-place team, got seven kills apiece from Micha Tanuvasa-Maiava and Ala Tito. The Red Raiders had no seniors on their roster and surpassed coach Joaquin Lessary’s preseason expectations.

"That third set I asked them if they really wanted to end their season like this, and they said no," Lessary said. "I’m like, ‘OK, well we need to fight, and we need to fight to the end. We’ll see who wants it more.’ Kamehameha, they are a tough team. They already know what it takes to go to states. They already know what it takes to win states. Right now, we’re OK. We’re still young. But we can learn from all of this and next year we’ll come back."

OTHER FIRST ROUND

» Kamahao Paio had 18 kills, Mamane Namahoe 13 and Keanu Esser contributed 24 assists, leading Waiakea over Kalaheo 25-16, 25-22, 25-23. Kainoa Peterson and Naia Singlehurst had 10 kills apiece for Kalaheo.

» Ryan Garces had 15 kills, Afoa Laga13 and Trent Helle 10 to lift Baldwin past Campbell 25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-20. Eugene Pouesi had 14 kills and Ryan Berengue 10 for the Sabers.

» Landon Young had nine kills, Faumuina Akoni eight and Jahren Muliagatele added 19 assists to lead Waianae over Leilehua 25-20, 27-25, 25-22. Max Aiono led Leilehua with 15 kills, while Toma Savea added nine.

NEW CITY NISSAN BOYS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION I

FRIDAY

FIRST ROUND

Baldwin def. Campbell 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-20)

Kamehameha def. Kahuku 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-23)

Waiakea def. Kalaheo 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-23)

Waianae def. Leilehua 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-22)

SATURDAY 

QUARTERFINALS

Waiakea at (1) Punahou, 3 p.m.

Baldwin at (2) Moanalua, 3 p.m.

Kamehameha at (3) Kamehameha-Hawaii, 3 p.m.

Waianae at (4) King Kekaulike, 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 9

SEMIFINALS
At McKinley High gym

Kamehameha/Kamehameha-Hawaii winner vs. Baldwin/Moanalua winner, time tba

Waianae/King Kekaulike winner vs. Waiakea/Punahou winner, time tba

SATURDAY, MAY 10
at Blaisdell Arena

CHAMPIONSHIP

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

THIRD PLACE

Semifinal losers, 3 p.m.