Posted on: Sunday, November 7, 2004

Kamehameha boys reach state volleyball tourney

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Members of Kamehameha's boys volleyball team can hold their heads up high — they ended the season of the team that beat them in last year's state championship match.

Kamehameha beat host Iolani, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, yesterday in the playoff for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's second and final state tournament berth.

"It felt so good after last year's loss," senior Ernie Vidinha said. "Everyone on our team had their heads down (last season) and it feels great to beat the defending state champions."

Kamehameha (11-3) and league champion Punahou (13-0) will represent the ILH at the state tournament, Nov. 10 to 13 at Kamehameha's Big Island campus.

"The league is tough and the two teams that are going to go are going to represent well," Kamehameha coach Pono Maa said.

Added Iolani coach Luis Ramirez: "It proves once again how tough this league is. When you think about it, the teams fighting for the one last spot were in the state finals last season."

Vidinha had 14 kills and Ronson Olaso added 12 for the Warriors, who trailed 12-8 in the third game.

Kamehameha tied it at 15 on a kill by Ikaika Shelton and took its first lead of the game at 19-18 on a double block by Jordan Inafuku and Vidinha.

A kill by Olaso brought the Warriors to match point and Shelton ended it with his eighth kill.

"The guys had to show a lot of character," Maa said. "My hat's off to the boys. They fought when we were down and found a way to win."

In the first game, Kamehameha had all four of its aces, including two in a row by Vidinha that hit the top of the net and fell on Iolani's side of the court to put the Warriors up 14-9. Olaso and Vidinha both had six kills in the game.

Iolani (10-3) led all the way in the second game and took its largest lead at 20-10. The Raiders outblocked the Warriors 6-1 in the game.

Kawika Shoji had 14 kills to lead Iolani, including seven in the third game.

The Raiders had no aces and nine service errors.

Kamehameha beat Iolani in the ILH tournament semifinals Tuesday, but lost to Punahou in the final two days later to force yesterday's match. All tournament matches were best-of-five, but yesterday's playoff was best-of-three, which was the format used during the regular season.

"It's in the ILH bylaws, that's what we agreed on," Ramirez said. "It's also part of the rational, I'm just speculating, but no other league plays best-out-of-five and it's so close to the state tournament."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.