ISLE FILE
Ka'u posts historic victory in state play

Advertiser Staff

Elias Navarro and Jason Villa each had 15 kills as Ka'u of the Big Island defeated Leilehua, 10-15, 15-8, 15-6, yesterday in the first round of the Nissan Boys State Volleyball Tournament at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Joshua Ortega added nine kills and Cory Enriques had four aces for the Trojans (14-3), who are playing in their first Hawai'i High School Athletic Association tournament as a team for any sport in school history.

Navarro also had four blocks for Ka'u, which advances to today's quarterfinal round against Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha (15-1), the tournament's top seed. That match is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Michael Newmeyer had 12 kills and Edward Garcia contributed five kills and four blocks for Leilehua (9-6), which plays Maui in a consolation match at 2 p.m. today.

In other first-round matches:

• Iolani 2, Campbell 0: Derrick Low and Chad Miller each had seven kills to lead Iolani to a 15-3, 15-11 victory. Low added three aces and Todd Blankenship five kills for the Raiders (15-2), who play Maui champion Seabury Hall (11-1) today at 3:30 p.m. Kainoa Rapoza had seven kills and Gary Ramirez five kills and two blocks for Campbell (11-4).

• Mililani 2, Maui 0: Ryan Gonzales had 17 kills, Justin Himori 14 and Puna Neumann 11 to lead Mililani to a 15-10, 15-11 victory. Neumann also had three blocks and two aces for the Trojans (12-2), who play Big Island champion Kealakehe (14-1) today at 8 p.m. Gene Rivera had nine kills, Kynan Metoger seven and Kalani-ku Clark six for Maui (8-5). Metoger also had six blocks.

• WAIAKEA 2, WAIMEA 0: Tom Dement had nine kills and Kamalu Kabalis eight to lead Waiakea to a 15-13, 15-12 victory. Ephraim Kahanu added six kills for the Warriors (13-3), who play O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Pearl City (12-1) today at 6:30 p.m. Casey Kaohelaulii Jr. had eight kills, Desmond Rodrigues seven and John Karratti six for Waimea (8-2).