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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 14, 2010

Christenson ignites rally as Kamehameha tops Roosevelt

 •  Waiākea sweeps Baldwin


By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kamehameha dual-sport junior Micah Christenson put up basketball-like numbers when he recorded 21 kills and nine digs to lift the Warriors into the state volleyball semifinals.

Kamehameha defeated Roosevelt, 18-25, 25-21, 25-12, 25-12, last night in the New City Nissan Boys Division I Volleyball State Championships at Kaimukī High School gym.

"For Micah, he's been asked to step up and deliver for us throughout the season —in some matches, but not all, because not all matches are like the one we just experienced," Kamehameha coach Guy Kaniho said.

Kamehameha (18-4) plays 'Iolani (20-2) at Kaimukī tonight at 7.

The Rough Riders (16-1), the No. 2 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champions, used a 10-point run to turn a 9-4 deficit into a 14-9 lead, and would not trail again in the first set.

"Roosevelt came out fired up," Kaniho said. "They went on some runs and we couldn't overcome those runs and by the time they established that lead, they were too far out in front."

The Warriors bounced back in the second set, outhitting the Rough Riders .387 to .273, led by Christenson's seven kills. Kamehameha's offense continued to thrive in the third set, as it hit .440, again led by Christenson, who had eight kills.

"The first set, we knew it wasn't Kamehameha volleyball, especially with all the runs we gave them," said Christenson, the Advertiser's co-State Player of the Year in basketball. "I felt I had to pick my team up with leadership as well as my play."

The Warriors eased to a 20-9 lead in the fourth set, led by five kills from Jaylen Reyes, who finished with 14 kills. Fittingly, Christenson ended the match with a service ace.