KEALAKEKUA — After an extended drought, it’s been a bountiful few years for the Konawaena boys volleyball program.
With a straight set victory over Pahoa in the BIIF Division II semifinals on Wednesday evening, Konawaena earned a chance to claim back-to-back titles, a year after breaking a nearly two decade stretch without a championship.
The Wildcats also clinched a spot in the state tournament after beating the Daggers 25-9, 25-23, 25-19 in the semis.
Konawaena will take on Hawaii Prep in the title match on Friday at Kamehameha. The match is set for 5:30 p.m.
In the previous meeting between the two schools, Konawaena edged Ka Makani in a five set match at HPA. However, Hawaii Prep was down several starters due to illness.
Senior standout Viliami Kaea seemed confident his team could pull out the victory, saying that as long as Konawaena plays well, they can win. However, junior setter Benjamin McKinley was a little more reserved.
“HPA is kind of scary,” McKinley said. “They were missing two or three starters when we played them and we played well in that game. But we can do it if we play to our potential.”
Konawaena played well in the opening set, working as a team, jumping out to a 8-0 advantage. Pahoa would never get closer than seven points for the set. The second set did not go as smoothly, with both teams making unforced errors, but the Wildcats managed to escape after nearly blowing a 24-20 advantage.
Both teams battled to open the third set. With the Konawaena and Pahoa tied at 5-5, Alan Cancino Magana blasted the ball up the middle for a Wildcat lead. Keali’i Kuahuia followed with and ace, but hit his next shot in the net.
Up 7-6, McKinley and Kaea started connecting. On the next two points, McKinley set the ball and Kaea slammed it down, picking up kills on a left-to-right cross and a shot down the line.
The pair has played volleyball for three years together and have a chemistry that only friends off the court can have.
“I hang out with Viliami after school, we play other sports together and we even have a few classes together,” McKinley said. “Honestly, he is just a good friend to me and I know him really well.”
Kaea was nearly unstoppable in the set, prompting coach Ainsley Keawekane to call his number on a regular basis.
“Viliami is one of our co-captains and has really stepped up this year,” Keawekane said. “He is also a very positive leader. He gets down on himself sometimes but never on his teammates.”
While playing well, Kaea was more satisfied with the the entire teams play overall.
“It feels good when when we get a good pass, a good set and a good kill,” Kaea said. “It shows teamwork and that is what we have been working for the entire season.”
When Kaea was not scoring on power shots, McKinley was using his craftiness to find ways to score. As a jump setter, McKinley often has a chance to go for the set or the kill. He used this tactic sporadically against Pahoa, picking up several points off second hit shots.
“Ben has great vision when he is up at the net,” Keawekane said. “If he doesn’t see an opening then he makes the set, but that will always be a decoy. It helps hold a blocker on him and if another blocker is on the middle man, then that sets us up with a one-on-one on the outside.”
