By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Emmett Enriques traveled a different path to become a familiar lightning bolt on the volleyball court, establishing himself in his own unique way.
For three years, the Kamehameha senior outside hitter played under the shadow of his older brother Evan Enriques, who’s now at Stanford.
In his lone season as the Warriors’ main offensive threat, Emmett Enriques matched his constant comparison and role model in achievement.
He lifted Kamehameha to back-to-back BIIF Division I titles and HHSAA state runner-up finishes.
In the state championship four-set loss to Punahou, Enriques blasted 33 kills on 90 swings against constant double blocks.
Enriques was named the BIIF Division I Player of the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches, cementing his family as the most accomplished in league history.
Sophomore brothers and twins Addie and Avery Enriques weren’t recognized, but shared setting and ball-handling duties for the Warriors, who often beat bigger teams because of their better ball-control.
Evan Enriques, a 2014 Kamehameha graduate, was a three-time BIIF Player of the Year. He was an immediate weapon, and on the All-BIIF first team as a freshman.
“We’re very competitive, especially playing with each other. It just makes us better,” Emmett said. “We’re all also trying to stay out of the shadows of each other, and be known as individuals rather than a younger brother.”
Last season, Emmett Enriques was an honorable mention. Joining him on the first team is Kamehameha senior middle blocker Paki Iaea.
Everyone on the first team is a newcomer, except for Hilo senior setter Maikah Tandal, the only repeat selection.
Rounding out the first team are Hilo middles Sione Atuekaho and Justice Lord, hitter Bradley Comilla, and libero Trevor Castro, Kealakehe middle Peni Kalavi and opposite Seth Lincoln, and Waiakea hitter Ty Nishimura.
For comparison’s sake, Evan and Emmett Enriques are roughly the same size at 6 feet 1, and share the same core strength their dad has spent a lifetime teaching: ball-handling.
Addie and Avery are outside hitters and setters on their dad and Kamehameha coach Guy Enriques’ Southside 16s club team, and have won a USA Volleyball Junior National championship.
But from club ball to USA Volleyball High Performance (the pipeline to the national team), the focus for all four brothers has always been ball-control, especially passing in serve-receive and defending attacks.
That’s a reason Evan and Emmett, who signed with Cal Baptist, have scholarships as liberos and will turn into rivals in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the most competitive conference.
But Evan and Emmett are vastly different as far as personalities, channeling their intensity in contrasting fashions.
Evan’s fire has always been internal, much like an ace pitcher who retains an unflappable composure whether he’s firing a no-hitter or getting shelled.
Emmett’s furnace is apparent for all to see, much like a linebacker who goes full blast on every play. Back to the diamond, he’ll throw fastballs all day, even though he’s got a pretty good roll shot as a changeup.
“Their desire to win is similar, but how they go about it is different,” Guy Enriques said. “Evan thinks about the game, and spends a lot of time on the mental part. Evan doesn’t allow himself to get too high.
“Emmett takes advantage of that high and rides it. It’s a dangerous path to take sometimes. But when he rides it, then it can be really nice.”
The Kamehameha coach pointed out that Emmett had the toughest deal because he played under his brother’s shadow for three long years, and had to exercise a ton of patience, and wait for his turn to shine.
But the coach and his wife Julie Enriques always knew that all the mini-battles in the household and on the volleyball court didn’t drive the brothers, especially Evan and Emmett, apart, but rather brought them closer.
“Emmett was asked who his inspiration was and he pointed to Evan,” Guy Enriques said. “We were not shocked, but that made our family proud. He was always fighting under a shadow, but still looking up to Evan. When he said that, it really melted his mom’s heart.
“We were a different team last year because we went to one guy. The team supported that because Evan was so team-oriented. Emmett had his own identity, but we had another guy step up. Isaiah Laeha was big against Moanalua (at states). It was nice to see a different guy step up.”
New-look Warriors
Kamehameha will be much different next season because Emmett Enriques was such an all-around presence, not only as a dependable lighting bolt attacker, but also a tough blocker and premium back-row ball-handler.
The competitive spirit will continue because Addie and Avery will soon be the same size as their older brothers, and feature a similar skill-set.
“Evan didn’t have to face this struggle. With his path, he led and never had to look behind,” Guy Enriques said. “Emmett had to look ahead and behind with his two younger brothers. Emmett had to fight two different battles, one on top and two from behind.
“The two younger ones want to get out and swing. But they had to play the role of setter. We needed their setting and ball-handling. Like Emmett, they had to wait. The battle between Emmett and Evan was tough, but between the twins it’ll be tougher.”
Summer memories
Guy Enriques will coach two teams during the summer, his Southside 16s that has his twins, and the Hawaii Elite 18s that is highlighted by the state’s best players.
Emmett Enriques is now on Oahu training with the Hawaii Elite, which also includes Punahou’s Wil Stanley and Kelsey Yogi, Moanalua’s Austin Matautia, and King Kekaulike’s Colton Cowell.
The teams leave in a few weeks to play in a major tournament in Anaheim, Calif., before the USA Volleyball Junior National championships, which run in June and July in Ohio.
It’s not only an opportunity to take on the nation’s best young talent, but also a family bonding experience, the biggest reward of all.
“It’s a gift to coach my kids,” Guy Enriques said. “How many fathers have coached their kids from the time they started to play games until they graduate and get ready to leave home? I’d say very few.
“The kids know my expectations of them are higher than anyone else. It hasn’t always been easy. But the joy has been all mine.”
Then the Kamehameha coach made one final comparison between his two oldest sons, each with a different personality, but so many shared traits.
“With this year’s team, we were searching for that one guy. You need that one guy a team will look to, and can make things happen.
“This year, Emmett was one of the best in the state. As far as getting points, he carried us just like his older brother. Emmett converted points even when the opposition knew he was coming.
“Emmett’s honor is well-deserved. He had to play in a big shadow, be patient and keep plugging away to find his own way to win. He took a different path to get where he did. I’m really proud of him.”