Iolani boys sweep Maui, face Kealakehe today
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
Top seed Iolani made quick work of Maui in the Nissan Boys State Volleyball Championships last night by spreading the wealth.
Todd Blankenship, Kawika Shoji and Kyle Pape each had six kills as Iolani routed Maui, 25-15, 25-13, to advance to the semifinals at McKinley High School's Student Council Gymnasium.
Iolani (16-2), the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, will play No. 4 seed Kealakehe (16-3) today at 6:30 p.m.
Kamehameha-O'ahu (17-2) and No. 2 Seabury Hall (11-1) will play in tonight's other semifinal at 8.
Iolani setter Sean Carney received good passes from his teammates, which allowed him to utilize all his hitters.
"We had pretty good matchups. He spread it out well throughout the match," Iolani coach Luis Ramirez said.
Blankenship punctuated the first game domination by dropping in on three consecutive double blocks, which put the Raiders up 24-14.
"We had big blockers, we tried to get around them and we had a hard time doing that," Maui coach Cinda Thibodeaux said.
Iolani had four of its five aces in the second game.
"Our jump serves are a lot more aggressive," Ramirez said. "That's one of the things we worked on during the season."
The second game was tied four times, the final one at 5-5, before Iolani took over with its block and scrambling defense.
"We knew pretty much who they were going to so I think we did OK with the blocking," Ramirez said.
Maui, of the Maui Interscholastic League, had only four kills in the second game. Things would have been worse if not for five service errors by the Raiders.
Maui had only 13 kills and no aces in the match.
"We played flat tonight, what can I say?" Thibodeaux said.
Ramirez will face a couple of familiar faces in tonight's match against Kealakehe, which beat Mililani last night.
"We have two guys on their team that play on my club (team), Kyle Teves and Loa (Patao)," Ramirez said. "So the kids know each other. I think both teams will feel like they're playing against their friends and not so much in the state tournament, per say."
Four members of Iolani play on Ramirez's club team, according to him.
Maui will play Mililani at 3:30 p.m. today in a consolation match.
Kamehameha-O'ahu def. No. 3 Kahuku: Adam Tuifagu had nine kills and Kory Matsukado seven as defending state champion Kamehameha-O'ahu of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu beat Kahuku, 25-20, 25-14.
Despite the convincing victory, Kamehameha coach Pono Maa wasn't impressed with his team's performance.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not real pleased with our effort tonight, and I think the boys know that," Maa said. "We have some things we really have to take care of."
Kahuku, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, was the only seeded team to be eliminated yesterday.
A block by Ronson Olaso put the Warriors up 17-11 in the first game and the Red Raiders couldn't get closer than four thereafter.
The second game was tied at 4 before Tuifagu served five consecutive points to put Kamehameha in control. The Red Raiders had just four kills in the game.
"We couldn't really get our offense running at all," Kahuku coach Howard Kaululaau said. "Our passing was decent, but our offense is probably what killed us tonight. Our setter couldn't get the whole offense running."
Kahuku will play Waiakea at 5 p.m. today in a consolation match.
No. 4 Kealakehe def. Mililani: Kyle Teves had 16 kills and Nick Battistini added seven kills and six blocks as Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Kealakehe rallied past Mililani, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22.
There were eight ties and four lead changes in the final game. Mililani, of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, went up 20-16 after a net violation on Kealakehe. A kill by Battistini, a Mililani hitting error, a double hit on Mililani and a block by Loa Patao and Battistini tied it at 20.
The Trojans took their final lead at 21-20 on a net violation. The Waveriders went up 24-21 on two kills by Teves, one by Battistini and a lift. Donald Goings ended it with a kill down the middle.
In the second game, Patao used his jump serve to spark two four-point runs by Kealakehe. The second spurt gave Kealakehe a commanding 20-14 lead. Patao, a setter, had three aces and seven blocks.
Mililani's Puna Neumann had 12 kills and two aces, and Aaron Fujimoto added 10 kills.
No. 2 Seabury Hall def. Waiakea: Corey Spence had 16 kills and five blocks and Casey Walsh added seven kills as Maui Interscholastic League champion Seabury Hall defeated Waiakea, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18.
Cacey Dyson served five consecutive points to put Seabury Hall up 6-1, and the Spartans cruised the rest of the way in the first game.
Waiakea, of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, went up 5-1 in the second game before Seabury Hall tied it at 9. There were two lead changes and seven ties over the remainder of the game. Seabury Hall was within 22-21, but a service error, mis-set and a roll shot for a kill by Mason Suga ended it.
There were eight ties in the third game, the final one at 15-15. Seabury Hall built a 19-17 lead and finished off the match with four kills by four different players and two blocks. A double block by Dyson and Spence ended it.
Waiakea's Napua Cabatu had 10 kills and Kacy Goldstein added seven.
Waimea def. Campbell: Jeremy McDown had nine kills and three blocks, and Brynton Kawaihalau had three aces as Waimea of the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation beat Campbell, 25-13, 25-20, in a consolation round match.
John Taitin had five kills for Campbell of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.
Waimea will play the winner of today's Kalaheo-Ka'u match tomorrow at noon at Stan Sheriff Center for the consolation championship.
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.
