Gold for Ka Ulukoa 16s

The Ka Ulukoa 16s volleyball team earned gold for the second straight year at the Boys Junior National Championships, sweeping Canuck Stuff of Canada 25-10, 25-16 in Friday’s club division final in Houston.

The win came one day after the Canadians defeated Ka Ulukoa 27-25, 25-22 in pool play. For the 11-1 Hawaii team, Friday’s victory was a repeat of last year’s experience.

"We went through this same thing last year," coach David Engleman said of winning gold in the 15s division. "We faced one of the teams that beat us in pool play but beat them in the final. Our boys knew what to do, they were prepared for it."

Austin Matautia was named the MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by Seyi Engleman, Elijah Hew Len and Micha Tanurasa-Maiara. Other members of the team were Zachary Franquez, Jon Franquez, Aaron Oyasato, Kevin Hoo, Micah Tokiwa, Tevin Harper and Bryson Barlan. The assistant was Arlene Salvador.

It was the second gold medal for the club this week. On Wednesday, Ka Ulukoa won the 14 Open division.

Other teams from Hawaii in the 54-team division were Outrigger Canoe Club (6-5), tying for 19th, and Ku‘ikahi (4-6), tying for 29th.