Mom’s advice worked out for the best for Hilo hitting machine Kaala Deitch, who had a monster performance on Saturday against Kamehameha in a battle of volleyball unbeatens.
Deitch, a 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter, clobbered 29 kills, and Hilo defeated the Warriors 25-22, 26-24, 16-25, 25-23 in a BIIF Division I showdown with first place on the line at the Vikings gym.
It was one of five unbeaten games on the day and held the most significance. Kamehameha and Waiakea were both undefeated and squared off in baseball, and the Kamehameha softball team was unbeaten in a game against Waiakea.
The Vikings (9-0) remained in the driver’s seat for the BIIF regular season title, which includes the league’s first berth to the state tournament.
The Warriors (8-1) will likely have to win the BIIF semifinals in the four-team playoffs to snag a state spot.
Before the match, Deitch received inspirational advice from his mom, Kris.
“Funny story,” he said. “She told me to do my best. I told her I would try. She said, ‘Not try. Do your best.’ I’m happy that we won.”
It sounded like Yoda’s advice: Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Deitch was simply overpowering and consistent. He blasted eight kills in the first set, nine in the second, eight in the third and four in the fourth.
He soared above the block to smash balls to the floor, ricocheted bullets off defenders and found seams from the back-row.
Deitch has a pitcher’s poise. It’s impossible to tell if his team is ahead with match point on the line or behind. The Warriors lined up their defense to cover him, but he still found open spots on the floor.
MJ Vento Rowe, Hilo’s other outside hitter, added 18 kills. The Vikings had consistency with their ball-control from libero Lester Walker’s passes to Cy Alicuben’s sets.
“We did pretty good, pushed through and stuck as a team,” Alicuben said. “Kaala did a great job. His head was in the game, and he hit those shots.”
Kamau Maka’ike knocked down 19 kills, and Chase Bridges-Hunter added 13 kills. Libero Kamahao Kawelu piled up 24 digs, and setter Davin Masanda had 16 digs.
Maka’ike put on a master class of shot-making. There were times when he was triple-blocked, but he’d hit a roll shot that landed on the far sideline where the defense was vacant.
It was tight in Game 1, tied 22-22, until Hilo scored three straight, getting the last point on a Warrior hitting error.
The second set was the turning point. Kamehameha led late at 23-20, Hilo caught fire at the right time and stole that game.
Down 23-20, Rowe had two kills, a Warrior hitting error followed, and Deitch crushed a ball from behind the 10-foot line. Kamehameha tied it 24-24, then Rowe had a kill, and Deitch fired another missile from the back row.
Hilo had 12 unforced errors in Game 3, and Kamehameha easily took the third set 25-16.
In the fourth set, Deitch served six straight points to push the Viks to a 16-15 lead. Rowe rammed home the last two points to close the match.
“Their key was passing, and our key against them was not serving Kamahao,” Hilo coach Cy Alicuben Sr. said. “We wanted to keep it away from him, so the setter would set off-system. But other players passed well.”
When Hilo passed well or didn’t, Alicuben, a senior setter, kept the offense flowing. He also fed enough balls to middles Keanu Ouranitsas-Hayes and Kaoha Wilson and opposite Kelii Moku Maikui to give them clean swings and diversify the offense.
“Without a setter, there’s no way you can run an offense,” the Hilo coach said. “Our setter is competitive. And he’s a legitimate setter. That gives us a little bit of an upper hand.”
When Deitch follows mom’s advice, Hilo looks like a force that would make even Yoda proud.
