Punahou keeps the faith, rallies past Mira Costa

Reserve Piikea Clemons wasn’t supposed to be serving.

Middle blockers usually yield the service line to a libero or defensive specialist. Clemons, a sophomore playing her first week on the varsity team, entered the match just moments earlier with her Punahou volleyball team trailing by a huge deficit. For a player who doesn’t usually serve, Clemons stepped back and served seven straight points to tie the match at 22 in Set 2.

Hana Lishman, the tournament MVP, followed with two kills and an ace in the final moments to help Punahou beat Mira Costa (Calif.) 27-25, 27-25 to win its third straight Ann Kang Invitational title on Saturday at ‘Iolani. The Buffanblu went 9-0 in the three-day tournament.

"There was still plenty of game left and we didn’t want to give it up," said Lishman, who finished with eight kills. "Anything can happen and you can always come back from something. We didn’t think about a third set. We were thinking about the present and kept fighting until the whistle was blown."

Punahou struggled in Set 2 against an emotional and loud Mira Costa squad. The Mustangs did a dance in their huddle in between sets, and used that energy to build a 22-14 lead.

"We needed to get pumped up, so that was our way," said Mira Costa’s Phina Leilua, who had five kills and two aces.

Lishman’s kill gave Punahou a sideout that sent Clemons, who entered the game a few plays earlier, to the service line.

Clemons’ first serve fell deep in Mira Costa’s back row for an ace. She went back to the service line again and again, and her float serve generated a 7-0 run that tied the set at 22. Clemons, who said she was nervous and excited when she was called into the game, added two digs and even had an assist on a kill by Teiana Cataldo — another reserve that just checked in.

"I don’t really serve in games since I’m a middle and the libero takes me out," Clemons said. "I tried to keep it in as much as possible."

Lishman’s third kill during the 7-0 run tied the set and sent Mira Costa coach Hayley Blanchard off the bench as she argued vehemently for a lift to be called on the play. Blanchard didn’t get the call and was issued a yellow card.

Leilua’s kill stopped the run and put Mira Costa ahead 23-22.

"They definitely came back with more fire," Leilua said. "We didn’t expect that since we were up by so much. They definitely came back and played really well."

Kills from Lillie Klemmer and Lishman put Punahou at match point. Mira Costa went ahead 25-24, but Lishman had a kill from the right and a service ace to put Punahou at match point again. Klemmer and Kiani Tuileta’s block ended the match.

Klemmer finished with three blocks and Tuileta had 23 assists. McKenna Granato led Punahou with nine kills.

"We kind of got comfortable," Lishman said of Set 2. "We lost the momentum between sets. We took a little too long of a break.

"We just had to get back in the groove and just take it one touch, one play at a time."

Even with her team trailing from the start of Set 2, coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson didn’t call a timeout until Mira Costa led 18-12. She wanted to see how her players would respond.

"She definitely had confidence in us," Lishman said. "She even told us in our huddle after the game that she was going to see how we would come back from it and respond to that time of struggle and see how we can get back and keep going."

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Maryknoll def. ‘Iolani II 25-22, 25-22

Kingwood (Texas) def. Santa Monica (Calif.) 25-20, 25-14

Village Christian (Calif.) def. Hawaii Baptist 25-15, 25-15

Seabury Hall def. Newport Harbor (Calif.) 25-21, 25-22

Punahou def. Mira Costa (Calif.) 25-19, 25-19

Los Alamitos (Calif.) def. Moanalua 25-19, 26-24

Lakewood (Calif.) def. ‘Iolani 25-14, 25-17

Memorial (Texas) def. Kahuku 25-12, 22-25, 15-13

Hawaii Baptist def. ‘Iolani II 21-25, 25-20, 16-14

Maryknoll def. Newport 25-18, 15-25, 15-13

Moanalua def. Seabury Hall 27-25, 25-21

Kahuku def. Santa Monica 25-12, 25-17

Memorial def. Los Alamitos 25-19, 22-25, 15-12

Village Christian def. Kingwood 23-25, 25-18, 17-15

Punahou def. ‘Iolani 25-23, 25-10

Mira Costa def. Lakewood 25-19, 25-23

Lakewood def. ‘Iolani 25-22, 28-26

Punahou def. Mira Costa 27-25, 27-25