Kahuku beats St. Joseph for state volleyball crown

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

HILO — Move over, football team.

Kahuku players salute their fans with a cheer after knocking off St. Joseph to capture the state volleyball championship. Tim Wright • Special to The Advertiser

In capturing the trophy, Kahuku (15-2) became the first non-Interscholastic League of Honolulu team to win a state title since Kailua in 1981.

As an energized capacity crowd of about 3,000 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium turned up the volume full blast, the Red Raiders stepped up their game and overwhelmed the undersized and undermanned Cardinals (17-1).

"This was our goal from the very beginning, to focus and just play our game and win it," said Kahuku senior outside hitter Tuli Peters. "Everybody talks about our football team, and this was partially for them, for the boys."

Football fans will recognize the last names of many volleyball Red Raiders, such as Peters, Olevao, Funaki. And as with their football counterparts, these girls' athleticism proved to be crucial for Kahuku, which won the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.

Peters, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, displayed her athletic ability by finishing with eight kills, two aces and three blocks.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first game, only to see the Red Raiders climb back to 8-8 with the help of three errors and a net violation by St. Joseph. The Cardinals scored three straight points to go up 11-8, but Kahuku answered with kills by Musie Olevao and Peters.

After St. Joseph went up 12-10 on a Red Raiders error, Kahuku scored four straight points on two aces by freshman Camilla Ah Hoy, a kill by Peters and a Cardinals error.

St. Joseph closed it to 14-13 on a Kahuku error, but the Red Raiders won the game after a St. Joseph hit went into the net.

"We had too many unforced errors," Hanohano said. "Our defense wasn't on top of it, we were struggling there. But Kahuku was all over the place, they were digging everything."

Peters had three kills, two aces and a block to help the Red Raiders race to a 10-4 lead in the second game, and Kahuku stretched it to 14-5 after blocks by Mona Ale and Peters and kills by Ale and Lesina Funaki.

"During the break, we told our two setters, 'We need to find Tuli,' " Red Raiders coach Mona Ah Hoy said. "I said, 'She's hot, she's jumping over them.' The other girls understood and we had good teamwork. Everybody chipped in."

The Cardinals then staged a 6-0 rally led by Jazmin Pa'akaula's five kills and a block. But Kahuku ended it on a cross-court kill by Ale. Pa'akaula finished with a match-high 12 kills.

"Jazmin had an incredible tournament," Hanohano said. "She had the top of her game, but we came back too late. At least we went down swinging — it was a great championship match."

Kahuku's victory ended a historic run by St. Joseph, a team with only nine healthy players and only three over 5 feet 8. The Cardinals, who had won the school's first Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls title two weeks ago, were playing in their first state final.

"That team is small, but they've got great leaping ability and they play with a lot of heart," Ah Hoy said.

As for her team, Ah Hoy said focus was the key.

"We came here for only one purpose, and that was to take home this trophy," Ah Hoy said. "All we did since we got here was practice, watch games and rest. Now we can have fun."

Kills: StJ—Jazmin Pa'akaula 12, Jessi Mau 5, Lindsey Lee 3. Kahuku—Tuli Peters 8, Mona Ale 7, Musie Olevao 3, Lesina Funaki 3. Blocks: Kahuku—T. Peters 3, Mona Ale 3, Musie Olevao 2. Aces: Kahuku—T. Peters 2, Camilla Ah-Hoy 2.

THIRD PLACE

• Kamehameha def. Seabury Hall 15-8, 15-12: Makana Recca had 10 kills and Mounia Nihipali added nine as the Warriors (17-1) beat Seabury Hall (15-2).

Kills: Kam—Makana Recca 10, Mounia Nihipali 9, Chauntelle Maduli 5. Seabury—Jodi Poouahi 5, Kaimana Lee 4, Lauren Powley 4. Blocks: Kam—Anuhea Friel 2. Seabury—Ashley Suliman 2. Aces: Kam—Randi Salis 2.

FIFTH PLACE

• Iolani def. Maui 15-5, 15-11: Kristin Koochi served three aces and Kanoe Kamana'o and Rebecca Lisle each had five kills to lead the Raiders (16-4) over the Sabers (13-5).

Kills: Iol—Kanoe Kamana'o 5, Rebecca Lisle 5, Raeceen Woolford 4, Tiffany Chung 4. Maui—Shanel Sam Fong 5, Edwina Pagdilao 3. Aces: Iol—Kristin Koochi 3.

Consolation final

• Kalaheo def. Pearl City 15-11, 15-13: Juliana Sanders had 12 kills and six blocks and Amy Lusk added 11 kills as the Mustangs (10-6) knocked off the Chargers (12-4).

Kills: Kala—Juliana Sanders 12, Amy Lusk 11, Haoli Kahlbaum 2, Meghan Watson 2. PC—Chalice Kaapuni 7, Marci Lobendahn 5, Tina Questal 4. Blocks: Kala—J. Sanders 6, Vanessa Earle 2, Haoli Kahlbaum 2. Aces: PC—Tina Questal 2, M. Lobendahn 2.