Hanalani’s playoff run
stopped by Crusaders
Hanalani's Cinderella run through the playoffs came to a halt yesterday afternoon.
Jarrett Fujita had 15 kills to lead seventh-seeded Saint Louis past the 11th-seeded Royals 13-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-23 in a play-in of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu playoffs at McCabe Gym.
The Crusaders (5-6) play at second-seeded Iolani today at 1 p.m.
"Tomorrow's the test," Saint Louis coach George Ehia said. "That's where we really have to show up and play."
After sitting his starters in the first game, Ehia let them play in the second game and Saint Louis never looked back. Fujita's second kill of the game gave his team a 4-3 lead and the Royals got no closer than two points the rest of the way.
Saint Louis also had six service aces and tightened its block to take Williams out of the match.
"Every time you lose, you want to come back stronger and harder," Ehia said. "Adjustment-wise, I told the boys we needed to stay low and inside on him, and be in front of the ball in terms of blocking."
Errors proved costly for Hanalani, as it had four consecutive service errors.
"It was frustrating that we worked so hard on these digs and hits and we handed them a point," Sprout said.
The Crusaders took Game 3 behind Fujita's eight kills and the serving of Bo Ronduen. Leading 13-9, Ronduen served seven straight points to close out the Royals.
Hanalani struggled to contain Fujita, who had no problem hitting past the Royals' block or shaking up the Royals' passing.
"He was pounding through our block and down the line," Sprout said. "That shakes them up and takes them out of the game for the next pass."
The fourth game was tied five times, the last at 22-22 after a kill by Hanalani's David Vidinha. The Crusaders scored the next two points off Andrew McKee's kill and a hitting error by Williams. Williams' 12th and final kill of the night cut the lead to 24-23, but Fujita ended the game after hitting the ball off the Hanalani block.
"He was the main factor, not to take away from some of the other players," Sprout said. "We were overloading on (Fujita) so they were going to their other guys which had a lot of open spots."
