Punahou beats Iolani in boys, girls volleyball

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the first time in their careers, the players on the Punahou boys volleyball team will play in a state tournament.

Punahou defeated defending state champion Iolani, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22, last night in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu match in a packed Iolani School gym to clinch a state berth for the first time since 2000.

"Punahou hasn't been to states in like, four years, so that was a motivator for me," Buffanblu sophomore Spencer McLachlin said.

The Buffanblu improved to 7-0 while handing the Raiders (7-1) their first loss of the season.

As expected, game 1 was close, with neither team getting more than a three-point cushion. Punahou's largest lead was 23-20, but Iolani outscored Buffanblu 6-1 to close out the game.

"They came out with a different lineup than we expected and it took us a while to get adjusted to it," Punahou coach Peter Balding said.

Instead of using a two-setter system, Iolani coach Luis Ramirez used junior Kawika Shoji as the only setter, because with Shoji, "the game looks so much faster," Ramirez said. Usually Shoji plays both outside hitter and setter.

Punahou rebounded in the second game, led by McLachlin and Ka'ohu Berg-Hee, who had four kills apiece. With the score tied at 12, Punahou outscored Iolani 13-7.

McLachlin had a team-high 14 kills, and was in on two triple blocks that gave the Buffanblu a two-point cushion in the waning points of the third game.

"He's kind of our go-to guy," Balding said. "He struggled tonight, but when we needed him to get us a point, he came through."

Said McLachlin: "This game was the game to automatically qualify us for states and that's what pushed us through."

Iolani still has a chance for a state berth if it wins the second round or finishes second to Punahou.

"Both our teams were in the same boat and knew the importance of the game," Ramirez said.

Iolani senior outside hitter Kyle Pape finished with a match-high 16 points.

Girls Varsity: The Punahou girls overcame a slow start to outlast Iolani, 14-25, 25-16,

25-17, and remain atop the ILH standings at 8-0.

Sophomore outside hitter Larissa Nordyke had 15 kills, including seven in the pivotal third game, to lead the Buffanblu past the Raiders (6-3).

Despite committing seven hitting errors in the first game, Punahou settled down for the remainder of the match behind Nordyke and sophomore Elizabeth Ka'aihue — who combined for 21 kills after hitting just two in the first game.

Punahou closed out the third game with a 13-5 run, breaking from a 12-12 tie.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.