Warriors top Raiders to capture 2nd round
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys volleyball championship that Iolani had waited 24 years to capture must wait another day, at least.
Defending state champion Kamehameha held off the previously unbeaten Raiders, 5-15, 15-7, 15-13, 7-15, 15-10, last night at Iolani. The victory clinched the ILH's second-round title for the Warriors and forces a playoff for the overall championship.
Iolani athletic director Carl Schroers, the league's volleyball coordinator, said a site and time for the playoff probably would not be determined until today.
If a site cannot be found for tomorrow, Schroers said, the match may have to be played on Saturday or later.
Whenever and wherever the playoff happens, it probably will be worth watching, since both teams are 14-1 and evenly matched.
Iolani, seeking its first title since 1978, raced to an 11-2 lead in the first game, which ended after 14 minutes. Kamehameha used an 8-2 run to finish the second game and won the third game after the Raiders lost the serve at 13-13 because of a delay penalty.
"We weren't focused in the first game," said Warriors outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl, who finished with 22 kills and seven blocks. "We missed the things we did in practice, but in the second game everything came together."
Iolani caught fire again in the fourth game, scoring the last eight points in a row on kills and blocks by Derrick Low, Chad Miller and BJ Takushi and an ace by Michael Contee.
In the rally-scoring fifth game, however, Kamehameha gained a 6-1 advantage and the Raiders could only get to within four (13-9) the rest of the way.
"Our defense tonight wasn't as crisp as usual," Iolani coach Luis Ramirez said. "Our passing started to deteriorate."
Low had a match-high 24 kills and eight digs. The Warriors' Jarrett Day had 17 kills and 10 blocks and Willy Melemai added eight blocks.
• La Pietra upsets Iolani: Alicia Arnott had 25 kills and 10 digs and Ali Rigg added 15 kills and eight digs as La Pietra upset defending state champion Iolani, 15-13, 15-3, 13-15, 11-15, 15-13.
If La Pietra defeats Punahou Tuesday, it will play Iolani for the ILH's second state tournament berth. If Punahou wins, there could be a three-way tie and more playoffs.
