Moanalua got the win, but its inconsistency stood out.
Moanalua started well, fell into a deep lull and recovered for a 25-16, 25-16, 23-25, 25-12 win over Lahainaluna in Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships at Kalani.
Austin Matautia had 27 kills and Nalu Demello added 12 as second-seeded Moanalua (15-0) will host Kamehameha-Hawaii in today’s semifinals.
“This is states, we can’t be messing around,” Matautia said. “We can’t be losing games like this over simple plays.”
Twelve of Moanalua’s 20 hitting errors came in Set 3 when communication, serving and passing broke down. Lahainaluna (11-7) stuck around and finished off Moanalua with a late push.
“We didn’t come in like we were hungry or like we were the lower seed,” Matautia said. “We got to do that more often. This game was a little too lax for us. We got to always be on top of it. Tonight, we didn’t really play our best. Tomorrow, we better come out a lot stronger.”
Moanalua responded with a fast start in Set 4, running out to a 14-4 lead. Two aces from Seyj Engleman extended the lead to 18-5.
“It’s on us,” Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting said. “We got to take care of what we need to take care of. I was telling them it’s great it happened now, it’s great we figured out what was going on.
“I love the way they came back in the fourth set. Instead of blaming each other or whoever’s fault it was like they were doing at the end of that third set, they came together and said hey, let’s take care of it and let’s work.”
Justin Valdez had 10 kills and 13 digs and Kiakahi Kenolio-Dusenberry added nine kills for the Lunas. Lahainaluna coach David Schultz said this was the first time all six players on the floor played consistently.
“Basically what I was telling them was they all have to play as a team,” Schultz said. “They (Na Menehune) have a really great player and all of them of are technically sound. (We) had to come together and just play consistent.”
Lahainaluna pulled away late in Set 3. Valdez’s dig went over the net and landed for a kill to tie the set at 22-22. The set was tied at 23 after Matautia’s kill, but a block by Pono Murray and Unaloto Pahulu put the Lunas at set point. A Moanalua net violation gave the set to Lahainaluna.
“Once they started to make a little bit of resistance, the other team had to try a little bit harder,” Schultz said. “Then they started making a couple more errors and my guys started getting more confidence and then in that third game, they started making better plays and Moanalua made a couple errors.”
Matautia had seven of Moanalua’s 12 aces. Zackary Miyamoto had 46 assists as Moanalua outhit Lahainaluna .279 to .062.
KS-Hawaii 3, Kamehameha 1
Isaiah Laeha had 25 kills and Chase Carter and Addison Enriques added 12 each to help Kamehameha-Hawaii beat Kamehameha 25-15, 25-19, 26-28, 25-18.
Laeha, who hit for .345, left the match midway through Set 4 with an injury and didn’t return for KSH (15-0). Jai Makuakane had 29 assists and Kameron Moses had 25 assists in the win.
Naone Cannon had 13 kills for Kamehameha (13-5).
