Spartans get job done against Raiders

Maryknoll finally finished the job.

The Spartans had three tough losses to start the ILH boys volleyball season. But Maryknoll has focused on improving itself and finally got its first win of the year with a tough 29-27, 21-25, 25-22 victory over host ‘Iolani on Saturday.

“We’re more focused at this time of the season at getting better,” Maryknoll coach Sean Carney said. “Even in the other games where we didn’t finish, the division we play in is such tough competition. We’re trying to clean up the small things. It’s a fast season, we just finished our fourth match.

“But it’s for the kids. They deserved it. They work for these wins in practice.”

Kanalu Demelo had 15 kills and Hayato Kamata added seven more to lead the Spartans (1-3). Setter Andrew Caraang had 30 assists, three blocks and two aces. The Spartans lost three-set matches to No. 1 Punahou and Saint Louis, and dropped a close two-set match to No. 3 Kamehameha.

“It’s been a long trip getting to this point, but we’re improving more and more,” Demelo said.

Hugh Hogland had 17 kills and John Lee added eight for ‘Iolani (1-4), which is ranked seventh in the Star-Advertiser poll. Setter Erik Yamada had 23 assists, two blocks and two aces.

The Raiders outblocked the Spartans 13-4, but the 5-foot-10 Demelo managed to get past the big wall that included the 6-foot-8 Hogland. Demelo was able to hit through the blockers and off their hands.

“We were setting the ball faster so we could get there before the block did,” Demelo said. “If it wasn’t there, we tried to use high hands.”

Carney said Demelo recognized the big block and was able to adjust during the match. Hogland, Sky Passi and Nik Vonderhaar each finished with five blocks for ‘Iolani.

“It’s all him,” Carney said. “He actually brought up the fact that there’s a big block and he was trying to use the block. Nalu is a very dynamic player. They have a huge block on that side, but our passing did a good enough job to hold the middles and we told our outside hitters don’t swing for kills every time, you got to swing to make the right play.”

The Spartans opened up an advantage midway through Set 3 and led 18-13 after Kamata’s fifth kill of the set. The Raiders called a timeout, then went on a 5-1 run behind three kills from Hogland to cut the deficit to 19-18. An ‘Iolani service error put Maryknoll ahead 20-18. The Raiders closed to within one three more times, the last at 22-21. But back-to-back ‘Iolani hitting errors allowed Maryknoll to extend its lead to 24-21. Hogland had a kill after an ‘Iolani timeout. Travis Baguio’s kill in the middle gave Maryknoll the win.

“This win for our confidence is huge,” Carney said.

The Spartans have put an emphasis on defense, ball control and communication. Maryknoll’s defense was able to cover ‘Iolani’s tip shots and Demelo said his setter Caraang was especially vocal during Saturday’s match.

“We had more communication than our other games and we had more connections with our entire team,” Demelo said.

The Raiders led 19-11 in Set 2, but the Spartans cut the deficit to two on two occasions, the last at 23-21 after Demelo’s ace. The Raiders went back to Hogland, who was unstoppable hitting from the right side, and he buried two kills from there to finish the set.

Maryknoll served for Set 1 at 24-20, but committed three hitting errors and a lift to tie it at 24. The set was tied three more times before an ‘Iolani service error and Caraang’s block ended it.

“You got to play to win. You can’t wait for other teams to make mistakes; you got to take care of your side of the net,” Carney said. “We want people who want the ball. At the end of the game, we want to be the team that’s the most aggressive because that means we’re not nervous. We have some good seniors, juniors on our team, but we are a young team.”