If at first you don’t succeed, try, try … try, try again.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try … try, try again.
For Kamehameha, the final frontier once again presents an uninviting spectacle: all-powerful Punahou.
After a one-year hiccup, the Warriors returned to form in the HHSAA Division I volleyball semifinals, gliding past ILH runner-up Iolani 25-18, 25-21, 25-21 at Moanalua High in Honolulu to reach the championship for the fourth time in six seasons.
It’s ILH champion Punahou that has been Kamehameha’s stumbling block, bouncing the Warriors in the final in 2012, 14 and 15.
The five-time state champion Buffanblu (18-0) swept Waiakea 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 in the early semifinal.
Kamehameha, the four-time BIIF champ, also remained undefeated at 16-0, getting 11 kills from Avery Enriques and eight more from Nalu Kahapea, who hit .667.
The mistake-prone Red Raiders tried to press Kamehameha in the second set, but down 19-18 the Warriors reeled off six consecutive points thanks to five Iolani miscues and a kill by Enriques.
Kamehameha led 21-20 in the third game when an Enriques kill and two attack errors helped the Warriors match point, which Addison Enriques put down, finishing with seven kills and 11 digs.
Iolani (14-5) hit just .098.
Punahou 3, Waiakea 0
Ryan Wilcox posted 12 kills on .409 hitting and the Buffanblu hit just a shade under that to beat the BIIF runner-up Warriors (13-4), who hit negative .045.
Kolby Aiona once again led Waiakea, pounding 11 kills.
Waiakea gets Iolani at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the third-place match at Neal Blaisdell Center. The final is at 7 p.m.
Punahou shrugged off 14 service errors.
Division II
Hawaii Prep and Konawaena will meet up in the third-place match at 11 a.m. Saturday after each won consolation matches at Kalani High.
Ghar Pautz and Zach Chaikin compiled six kills apiece as BIIF champion Ka Makani (12-6) beat Castle 25-20, 25-19.
Viliami Kaea reeled off 13 kills as the BIIF runner-up Wildcats (8-8) dropped Farrington 25-19, 25-23.