Kamehameha tops Iolani in ILH boys volleyball playoff
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Iolani School's bid for its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys volleyball championship in 24 years was stonewalled by Kamehameha yesterday at Mid-Pacific gym.
The defending champ Warriors won, 12-15, 15-13, 15-12, 15-10, to earn the ILH's overall title and a first-round bye in next week's state tournament in Hilo. Iolani (14-2) already had clinched the league's second state tournament berth.
"They're an awesome team, the best team to go up against for a championship," said Kamehameha middle blocker Willy Melemai, who had 14 kills and a match-high 10 blocks. "But we're the returning state champs, and we expect a lot from each other."
The Warriors (15-1) had to rally past the Raiders twice in four days to retain their ILH title. Iolani had won the first-round championship, but Kamehameha prevailed in five games on Wednesday to capture the second round and force yesterday's playoff.
"Getting that win brought our team closer than we've ever been," Melemai said. "It gave us confidence for today."
That confidence was most evident in the decisive fourth game, during which Melemai had five blocks and two kills to help the Warriors take an 8-3 lead. Four of Kamehameha's points in that early run came on blocks by Melemai, outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl and setter Ainoa Miyashiro.
"We got on fire with those blocking matchups," Warriors coach Pono Ma'a said. "We were locking in on our assignments and it just started to flow. I thought that was the biggest adjustment of the match, our blocking in the fourth game."
The Raiders could only get as close as 9-6 thereafter, and Kamehameha went on another big run to get to match point at 14-6. Iolani fought back and got to 14-10 on a Warriors error, but a Raiders hit went long for the final point.
"Kamehameha is an outstanding program, but I give our guys credit," Iolani coach Luis Ramirez said. "They keep coming, and when they get blocked they just start hitting harder. They're the kind of guys with that mentality."
Raiders junior Derrick Low led all hitters with 27 kills, and Chad Miller and Todd Blankenship each added 17 kills for Iolani. Kneubuhl led the Warriors with 22 kills and Jarrett Day contributed 18 kills and three aces.
Blankenship had four kills during a late first-game run that allowed the Raiders to pull away from an 11-11 tie. Iolani grabbed a 9-5 lead in the second game and was up 13-11, but Kamehameha rallied behind the hitting of Day, Kneubuhl and Adam Tuifaga.
The third game was tied at 8-8 but the Warriors ran off five straight points as Melemai had two kills and two blocks.
"Iolani is such a physical team, you have to block them or you're in trouble," Ma'a said. "When they get on a run, they feed off of that."
Ma'a added it took a team effort to hold off the Raiders, who were seeking their first ILH title since 1979.
"Willy gave us leadership at the net, and that's what we needed," Ma'a said. "But every day it's been somebody different stepping up. We need all six (players), plus the guys on the bench."
