Needing eight points to clinch matters and ready to jump and fire from beyond the line, Waiakea’s Claymon Morante admitted he thought about serving out the match.
He didn’t quite get there, but in sending blistering balls Hilo’s way and mixing in the occasional changeup, Morante helped the Warriors clinch a spot in the BIIF Division I volleyball championship match and berth in the HHSAA tournament.
A spirited, split crowd watched Monday’s semifinal at the Vikings’ gym, and when the fans did quiet for points, Morante brought the thunder, slamming 11 kills with six aces in Waiakea’s 25-17, 10-25, 25-20, 25-18 victory.
“For me, it’s about teamwork,” first-year Warriors coach Poli Olevao said. “Obviously, Claymon had his points and did his thing, but it took a whole team to bring him up like that.”
Kainalu Enriquez put down five kills, including match point, which prompted a celebratory back flip, Kamahoa Kaawaloa-Okita also had five kills with a block and AJ Doll put down four balls with three blocks for Waiakea (6-3), which will play Kamehameha (9-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Waiakea’s gym for the championship.
Waiakea won a rubber-match against Hilo (5-4), turning the tables after losing in four sets last week at the Vikings’ gym.
Asked what got better six nights later, Morante said, “My leadership and our connection with the team.”
Kawai Wilbur-Gabriel pounded 12 kills with two aces for Hilo and Peyton Pana added five kills.
The Vikings got their block going in routing the second set, and they got under the Warriors’ skin. Olevao joked that she started to chew her gum harder, and Morante admitted he became frustrated.
“I knew we can do better,” he said. “We had to shake it off.”
The third set was one of spurts. Kills from Morante, Kaawaloa-Okita and a Jayse Hayashi ace broke a 14-14 tie, but Kanoa Pana-Nathaniel came up with block and a kill to bring the Vikings within 22-20. Kaawaloa-Okita put down a ball and one point later Enriquez sent a spike across the net that was mishandled to end the set.
The fourth set was tight until Xander James Macomber’s kill gave Waiakea a 16-14 lead and sent Morante to serve. The Warriors won six straight points, three on aces, and were on their way to a third match with Kamehameha (9-0), which swept Keaau 25-15, 25-17, 25-13 on Monday at home in their semifinal.
In two matches with Kamehameha, Waiakea took one set.
“It’s about mental ability,” Olevao said. “Physically, it’s there. It’s more mental. They have to believe they can win.”
Hayashi finished with four aces. Pana-Nathaniel had four kills, two blocks and an ace.
Division II
Kailen Kamakeeaina smacked 15 kills with nine digs and hit .400, and Chris Kaawaloa-Alidon added six kills as Pahoa swept visiting Ka’u 25-19, 25-15, 25-18 to reach the Division II championship game and lock down a state berth.
Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu led the Trojans (5-4) with 14 kills and Micah Espejo had 10, but Ka’u was outhit .238-.058.
Pahoa (6-2) finished with 15 aces, six off the arm of Jheyden Haili, advancing to face Konawaena at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the final at Konawaena.