The pressure or burden of being called the best on the Division II level with an asterisk is off for Konawaena, which can go back to playing stress-free, high-flying and hard-hitting volleyball.
The Wildcats have nothing to worry about no matter what team they face at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships, which run Wednesday through Saturday in Honolulu.
It was always something of an empty feeling that they won states last season, but finished as the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II runner-up the last three years, falling to Hawaii Prep in 2011, Ka‘u in ‘12 and HPA again in ‘13.
In the BIIF Division II championship two weeks ago, Kona took an ultra-aggressive approach and simply overpowered HPA 25-20, 25-15, 25-17, capturing its first title since 1998.
Chanelle Molina and McKenna Ventura are closing their junior seasons with a flourish. They swung hard and hammered 14 and seven kills, respectively, to help the Wildcats outgun HPA in the firepower department, 40-15 in kills.
After Ventura knocked down the final point, the Wildcats (15-0) exploded in celebration at Ellison Onizuka gym, where the BIIF championship award can be added to the school’s trophy case, commemorating what is perhaps the best volleyball team in school history.
Konawaena was unseeded when it made its state title run last season, but the Wildcats earned the top seed this season and will open in Thursday’s quarterfinals at McKinley High against either Hana (9-3) of the Maui Interscholastic Federation or La Pietra (9-6) of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
Kona coach Ainsley Keawekane describes himself as old-school, believing that hard work and discipline are as fundamental as passing and serving. He may not be the smiley face type, but his cousin Napua Kaaa is.
He asked Kaaa, who played for Sharon Peterson’s University of Hawaii at Hilo team’s back in the day, to help coach the Wildcats. Kaaa not only sharpened skills, but also provided something equally as valuable.
“The kids’ faces would light up when she would show up,” Keawekane said. “When she first talked to them, she told them to have fun.”
On the night of Oct. 25, with their first BIIF championship trophy in hand, the Wildcats — screaming, shouting and bear-hugging — definitely looked like they were having fun.
There is little doubt Konawaena is battle-tested, but there is one area of concern: If the Wildcats are pushed at states, will they wish they had been able to play Kamehameha-Hawaii on Oct. 17 to prepare them for a tight match? The showdown between BIIF heavyweights was wiped out by the threat of Tropical Storm Ana.
HPA buy-in
There’s a BIIF doubleheader on tap Wednesday in the first round at Kaimuki High in Honolulu.
Honokaa, the BIIF’s third-place team, plays its first state contest since 2010 against Kailua (6-8), the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s No. 2 team, at 5 p.m., and Ka Makani take on OIA No. 3 Kaiser (5-7) at 7 p.m.
It will be HPA’s ninth consecutive state appearance, and it’s one Ka Makani had to work hard to obtain.
Sharon Peterson’s team really had no business beating Honokaa (10-7) in five sets in the BIIF semifinals, not with far more unforced errors than the Dragons, 62-42.
It was an error-filled marathon and HPA consistently came back from large deficits. Somehow, the resilient Ka Makani, who develop rookies every year into capable starters, won the fifth set 15-10.
Senior outside hitter Gabbie Ewing slammed 22 kills, Anna Juan served seven aces, and Alaina Bradley roofed the Dragons for five blocks, including four in the decisive final game.
Those were all vital weapons, but what really made the biggest difference was the buy-in from Peterson’s players. It helps when the team thinks like the head coach, and it’s even better when the best player talks like the coach, too.
“We’ve always been taught to never give up,” Ewing said after the match. “That really helped push us through the last set. Alaina had huge plays and our defense was scrappy. Everyone’s energy was up, and we didn’t want to lose any momentum. I thought that was important and we stayed together as a team.”
Those were Ewing’s exact words, and she sounded so much like Peterson, the NAIA Hall of Fame coach, who was with the Vulcans for 25 years, won seven national titles, and continues her influential work at HPA.
HHSAA Division II glance
Wednesday
First round
At Kaimuki High, Honolulu
Kailua (6-8) vs. Honokaa (10-7) , 5 p.m.
Hawaii Prep (10-5) vs. Radford (5-7), 7 p.m.
At McKinley High, Honolulu
Hana (9-3) vs. La Pietra (9-6), 5 p.m.
Kauai (11-2) vs. St. Francis (10-3), 7 p.m.
Thursday
Quarterfinals
At McKinley High, Honolulu
No. 1 Konawaena (15-0) vs. Hana-La Pietra winner, 5 p.m.
No. 4 Kalaheo (9-4) vs. Kauai-St. Francis winner, 7 p.m.
At Kaimuki High, Honolulu
No. 2 Seabury Hall (12-0) vs. Kailua-Honokaa winner, 5 p.m.
No. 3 Hawaii Baptist (11-2) vs. HPA-Radford winner, 7 p.m.
Consolation
At Kaimuki High, Honolulu
Kailua-Honokaa loser vs. HPA-Radford loser, 3:30 p.m.
At McKinley High, Honolulu
Hana-La Pietra loser vs. Kauai-St. Francis loser, 3:30 p.m.
Friday
Semifinals
At Kaimuki High, Honolulu
Konawaena or Hana-La Pietra winner vs. Kalaheo or Kauai-St. Francis winner, 5 p.m.
Seabury Hall or Kailua-Honokaa winner vs. Hawaii Baptist or HPA-Radford winner, 7 p.m.
Consolation
At McKinley High, Honolulu
Konawaena or Hana-La Pietra loser vs. Kalaheo or Kauai-St. Francis loser, 3:30 p.m.
At Kaimuki, Honolulu
Seabury Hall or Kailua-Honokaa loser vs. Hawaii Baptist or HPA-Radford loser, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday
At Neal Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu
Seventh place
Thursday’s consolation winners, 11 a.m.
Fifth place
Friday’s consolation winners, 12:30 p.m.
Third place
Semifinal losers, 2 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
