Short-handed Waiakea was the latest to huff and puff and try to blow Kamehameha’s house, built by indomitable bricks, down to no avail.
Kamehameha overpowered Waiakea 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 in a BIIF Division I showdown of unbeatens on Saturday night at the Warriors Gym.
The visiting Warriors (12-0) have already defeated title contenders Hilo and Kealakehe to jump into the driver’s seat for the BIIF regular season title, which includes the league’s first state berth. They can clinch with one more win.
The home team Warriors (8-1) have yet to play Hilo or Kealakehe, so they’re not resigned to last year’s fate. In the BIIF semifinals, Kamehameha swept and eliminated Waiakea.
Kamehameha played without Nani Spaar, who was out with a shoulder injury and will only play in the back row against Christian Liberty on Monday at Koaia Gym during Senior night.
The team will play in two mainland tournaments this week, one in Phoenix, Ariz., with 94 teams and another in San Diego with over 60 teams.
Waiakea was without junior Kailey Doll, who hurt her foot in practice and was in a boot, and sophomore Jeni Kon, who landed wrong during warm-ups and also sat out.
“With all that, I thought the girls did a good job,” Waiakea coach Ashley Hanohano said. “We told the defense to at least get a touch on the block. They did a great job as the first line of defense, and the back row did a great job.”
Freshman setter Grace Nakoa-Oness made do with what she had and spread the ball to junior Siera K-Aloha, who had nine kills, and seniors Kelsie Imai and Bethany Honma. They each had six kills.
“Our setter is eager to learn. She’s a selfless setter and wants to highlight her hitters,” Hanohano said. “Siera has improved so much. As a lefty, she’s out most consistent hitter on the right side. But we put her on the left and she blocks well, too.”
Waiakea played tough defense, touching balls on the block and digging balls in the back row. But the offense just wasn’t efficient or powerful enough with just 27 kills and 29 unforced errors.
“Waiakea played a hell of a defensive game. They forced us to be more offensive. We didn’t have a good offensive night,” Kamehameha coach Guy Enriques said.
Still, statistically, it’s nearly impossible to beat a team that produces 40 kills and 33 unforced errors as Kamehameha did.
The private-school Warriors were often too generous with giving away free points. But no big deal with so many weapons.
Taina Kaauwai, the 6-foot-1 freshman middle blocker, pounded 11 electric kills. Cammie Masanda, a freshman outside hitter, smartly knocked down nine kills, and freshman hitter Sarah Schubert, taking Spaar’s swings, added three kills.
“I’m really pleased with our three freshmen,” Enriques said. “They battled and I’m was excited about that. They’re steady and make shots, off-speed, roll shots. They’re steady. That’s why they’re in there.”
The three freshmen hitters also have the good habit of hitting the ball in. They don’t hit long, wide or into the net. Their balls may get dug, but at least that gives them a second swing.
It’s almost unfair that Kamehameha has such a nice collection of young talent. There’s also sophomore setter Sierra Scanlan, who lives the life of an offensive lineman. She makes others look good by simply doing her job.
“Our setter does a lot for us,” Enriques said. “There’s a lot you don’t see. She saves a lot of sets for us. She makes the offense run so well.”
Then there are the reliable veterans. Tihane DeRego added eight kills, ensuring Kamehameha’s offense was deadly in all rotations. When Kaauwai finished her front-row duty, she tag-teamed DeRego, who kept finding holes on the floor.
The first set was fun. It was back-and-forth long rallies, much like a tennis match. Then Kamehameha looked unstoppable after it was tied 20-20.
The visitors scored five straight points, including two by DeRego and game point by senior Megan Baldado, who finished with three kills. That’s the beauty of Kamehameha’s offense; it’s tough to figure out where to camp out a block.
In Game 2, Kamehameha had a whopping 14 unforced errors. All Waiakea had to do was score 11 points. The Warriors only managed six kills and had 11 giveaway points, an impossible way to win with those stats.
The third set followed a familiar pattern. It was close, tied at 20-20. Then the wind started to blow in Kamehameha’s direction with three unforced errors by Waiakea, which made it 24-20. Kaauwai put down a thunderbolt on match point.
The match ended in a sweep. But it did produce hope, that encouraging feeling that history can be repeated and anything can happen. Waiakea didn’t go to states last year; but everyone on the team remembers that Hilo upset Kamehameha for the BIIF championship.
Why not them?
“I told the girls we’re just beginning. We haven’t reached out peak,” Hanohano said. “They work so hard at practice. They’re disciplined and so respectful. Everyone is a big part of our puzzle.”
Hanohano is hoping that puzzle fully comes together at the BIIF semifinals, when it’s time to blow someone’s house down.