Pearl City stays unbeaten in OIA West volleyball

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

MILILANI — Pearl City's plan is fundamental in high school boys' volleyball: make good passes and deny its opponent from doing the same.

The Chargers excelled in both phases last night to sweep previously unbeaten Mililani, 15-3, 15-8, and gain sole possession of first place in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division.

Pearl City, which scored 18 unanswered points spanning two games, improved to 7-0. Mililani dropped to 7-1.

"Passing was a key factor that we didn't have tonight," Mililani coach Kauanoe Eldredge said. "They did a good job of identifying the person who wasn't passing very well tonight. That was the key tonight, hitting on someone who just wasn't playing up to their level tonight."

Pearl City coach Reid Shigemasa has always stressed passing over the years. The Chargers served long because they felt that was to their advantage.

"We weren't trying to aim for areas; we were just trying to keep them long," Shigemasa said. "We tried to pick on certain people, but the main thing is they were long."

While the Trojans labored with their passing, the Chargers executed with precision. Setter Christopher Kaneko usually got clean passes to set his hitters.

"Passing and setting the spots where we have to hit the ball" was the key, Pearl City outside hitter Kapena Wong said. "That's the main thing we did."

Trailing 3-2 in the first game, the Chargers scored 13 unanswered points. Wong and outside hitter Allison Dupont combined for five kills for sideouts during the run.

"This was one of the best games he's had," Shigemasa said of Wong. "He was fired up."

The Chargers opened the second game with a 5-0 run before the Trojans tied the score at 5 and again at 6.

But with Tyler Hue serving, Wong unleashed three consecutive kills to give Pearl City a lead it would not relinquish.

"Pearl City is a very quality team," Eldredge said. "They did everything well. For us to come around and try to get them out of their game was just too difficult a task today."