Moanalua wasn’t to be denied this time.
Moanalua wasn’t to be denied this time.
Austin Matautia dominated with 29 kills Thursday night, and Na Menehune beat Kamehameha-Hawaii 25-17, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18 in Honolulu to reach the HHSAA Division I volleyball championship match.
The BIIF champion Warriors (15-1) suffered their first defeat and were denied their fourth trip to the finals in five years. The previous three times Kamehameha reached the championship match by beating Moanalua in the semis, but Matautia had other plans this time around.
Avery Enriques and Addison Enriques each posted 12 kills, but neither hit for a high percentage and the Warriors hit just .129. Kamehameha sorely missed Isaiah Lahea, who posted 25 kills against Kamehameha-Kapalama in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Lahea suffered an apparent ankle injury, however and was on trainer’s table with his ankle wrapped in ice late in that match, and he didn’t play against Moanalua.
Matautia hit .468 and added a match-high 15 digs.