There was one moment of adversity for Konawaena’s boys volleyball team, but Tevita Lavaka – aka the “Terminator” or, in this case, the “Eraser” – was there to clean things up.
Lavaka came up with a block and a kill to extend Game 2, and on set point he ranged to his right like a powerhouse in motion to drop the hammer.
As natural as the senior looked on the court, he also appeared supremely in his element afterward Wednesday night as he held the BIIF Division II championship plaque tightly in his grasp.
Lavaka pounded 12 kills on .409 hitting – much to the delight of a vocal bench – and the Wildcats swept the Pahoa 25-11, 26-24, 25-19 at Waiakea High to claim their first crown since 2016.
“It feels amazing, it feels unreal,” he said. “I poured four years into the sport, and it’s amazing to be able to hold this in my hand and know it’s mine.”
The entire season was his and the Wildcats (9-0), who never were pressed to five sets in this return-to-play season.
“It’s been a dream, really,” Lavaka said.
Coach August Dias said this unbeaten run, for some, started two years ago during the worst times of the pandemic.
“It’s the culmination of everything that they worked for,” he said. “It felt like the past two years we had unfinished business, and now it’s finished.”
Lavaka, junior Pomaika’i Santana-Keka (seven kills), and senior Aidan Allred (six) conducted their business so efficiently they were able watch the final points of the match from the bench.
“It’s been one hell of a season,” Allred said, “and I’m just happy to be able to do it with this team.”
Rafael Medina, Kailen Kamakeeina and Jheyden Haili (10 digs) each posted five kills for the resurgent Daggers (6-3), who saw their title drought extend to nine years.
Pahoa put forth a spirited effort in the second set. Haili had two kills to give the Daggers a 19-18 lead, and later a kill and a block from Medina gave Pahoa set point. However, sandwiched around two Lavaka kills was a point that was emblematic of the match. Tied 24-24, Mana Dias-Elderts served one of his four aces.
Pahoa beat Ka’u in the semifinals with the help of strong serving, but it had 11 errors and only five aces in the final, while the Wildcats went for 11 aces and five errors.
In the the third set, Pahoa braced for another powerful spike from Lavaka, but he instead found a seam and his dink found the floor.
“This is what he does, he carries us, whenever we’re down” Dias said. “He he picks up the team. Puts us on our back and carries us whenever we need it.”
Exon Pimentero added five kills and Fabian Ruiz compiled 19 digs for the Wildcats, who won the hitting battle .126-.000. Travis Nakamoto had 28 assists.
Each team already had a spot in the eight-team HHSAA tournament, May 5-7 on Oahu, and Wildcats are in the running for a seeded berth.
“Our passing wasn’t how we normally pass,” Dias said. “We let a lot of balls drop, which gave Pahoa confidence and let them back in the game. But if we can (pass), we should be fine.”
The Daggers appeared to have an edge in fans in the stands, but Konawaena’s bench made up for it, chanting for much of the match. A vocal support group has been a hallmark this season for the Wildcats.
“That’s been the key to our success,” Allred said.
Asked if the singing and serenading would continue on the ride back to Kealakekua, Lavaka ensured that it would.
Then again, he looked at the plaque he held tight in his hand and said, “This kind of says it all.”
