Hilo withstood Claymon Morante’s match-high 29 kills and defeated Waiakea 33-31, 25-13, 20-25, 25-22 in a BIIF volleyball showdown on Tuesday night at the Vikings gym.
The junior outside hitter was dominant in Game 1 with 10 kills. Morante knocked down four kills in Game 2, six in Game 3, and nine kills in Game 4.
Morante took 99.99% of the swings for the Warriors (5-3), who cleaned up their erratic setting with the insertion of sophomore Kainalu Enriquez, who’s normally a hitter. But Enriquez ran a smooth offense and didn’t set any balls to Hilo.
“He’s going to get his kills. When he does, we need to bounce back,” Hilo coach Adam Tuifagu said. “If he gets one, we need to get one of our own. He was swinging front row, back row. He’s the total package. It’s great to watch when you’re not coaching against him. Great performance on his part.”
Waiakea had far more kills, 48-31, but also more unforced errors, 50-39, than Hilo. At least, the Warriors cut down on their major weakness, serving. They had just 10 service errors and eight aces.
Hilo had eight service errors and six aces and better firepower balance, earning a split of the season series and a home match against the Warriors in Monday’s semifinals based on a point differential tiebreaker. Earlier this season, Waiakea beat its rival 25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 25-22.
Peyton Pana, a first-year sophomore middle blocker, hammered 15 kills, junior outside hitter Kawai Wilbur-Gabriel added 12 kills, and freshman hitter/setter Maluhia Tandal had seven kills for the Vikings (5-3).
“I’m just happy for our boys. This is our first season back (from COVID-19), and everybody is trying to be resilient and stick together as a team,” Tuifagu said. “For the most part, they did that from player 1 to player 15. They stuck tougher when it was tough, when we were up, and we’ve trying to instill in them those types of teamwork stuff.”
Junior outside hitter Kamahoa Kaawaloa-Okita was Waiakea’s only other offensive option and finished with 12 kills.
The first set summed up Waiakea’s reliance on Morante, who blasted a kill for a 24-22 lead. But Wilbur-Gabriel and Pana had consecutive kills to tie it.
“That was the longest set I’ve coached or played,” said Tuifagu, a Kamehameha-Kapalama graduate, who played at Missouri Valley. “I was happy we made fewer errors to come out on top. There was a combination of good plays and errors on both sides. That was good because the momentum pushed us in Game 2.
“Everybody had their moments, and that’s what we’ve seen throughout the season. Everybody has the opportunity to shine and help the team. We just need everyone to happen at the same time, and that’s what we’re looking for, to be excellent at the same time.”
The teams traded service errors before another tie at 28-28 after a kill by Hilo senior hitter Deion Walea Pe’a Whitney, who finished with four kills.
Morante knocked down two kills, the last for a 31-30 Warrior lead. But the Vikings closed with a three-point run, on an unforced error, a kill by junior setter/hitter Kanoa Pana-Nathaniel, and a kill by Pana for set point.
Hilo was far more efficient with nine unforced errors, including three service errors. Waiakea did a nice job of beating itself with 18 unforced errors, including five service miscues.
In Game 2, the Vikings used a 7-0 run to grab a 15-5 lead. It was a nice senior moment for backup middle Grant Rix, who slammed home set point.
Enriquez served three straight aces during a 6-0 run in Game 3 for a 16-8 lead.
The Vikings got within 22-19 on a 4-0 scoring spurt, but Kaawaloa-Okita knocked down set point.
In Game 4, the Warriors led 22-21 but committed three straight unforced errors, and Tandal smashed match point on Hilo’s senior night, which also honored the COVID-19 classes of 2020 and 2021.
On Wednesday night, Kamehameha beat Kealakehe 25-10, 25-15, 25-21 in Kailua-Kona, completing an 8-0 regular season. The Warriors, who already own an automatic berth to the HHSAA tournament, will host Keaau (2-6) in a semifinal Monday. The Waveriders’ season is done at 0-8.
In Division II, Tevita Levaka pounded 17 kills with four blocks, and Aiden Allred added 10 kills and two blocks as Konawaena swept Christian Liberty 25-8, 25-15, 25-14 in Kealakekua. The loss drops the Canefire (4-3) down to the fourth seed and a home match with Hawaii Prep (4-3) on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs. The winner of that match faces the top-seeded Wildcats (7-0) in the semifinals. In Saturday’s other playoff match, Kohala (2-5) visits Ka’u (4-3).
In Saturday’s other playoff match, Kohala (2-5) visits Ka’u (4-3). The winner advanced to face Pahoa (5-2) in the semifinals.