HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Kapaa storms back to beat Mid-Pac for state crown
By Kyle Galdeira
Special to the Star-Bulletin
Kapaa fought back to beat Mid-Pacific 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, and win the championship match of the inaugural Hawaii High School Athletic Association/NewCityNissan.com State Division II boys volleyball tournament last night at Punahou's Hemmeter Field House.
"I just told the boys that we didn't work all summer and all year long to let this go to waste," said Warrior head coach Merrill Carvalho of his team after it lost the first game. "We had to refocus and step it up a notch because Mid-Pac was not gonna be easy (to beat).
"When people look back at the record books, they're going to see Kapaa Warriors as the first Division II champions, so it's a very special feeling for us."
Lyndon Pascual led the Warriors with seven kills, 12 digs and three blocks. Kapaa finished the season with a perfect 11-0 record.
"It feels great -- we knew we could do it," Pascual said.
Both teams stuck with each other through Game 1 until Mid-Pacific jumped out to a 19-15 lead. After the Owls went on a 7-3 run, and were within one point of the victory, the Warriors refused to fold, and ran off five straight points to pull within one point. But Kapaa's Chaz Galvez hit the ball into the net on the ensuing play, giving Mid-Pacific the 25-23 win.
The Warriors got out to a 17-10 lead in Game 2, however, and seemed to sense the momentum shifting. After the Owls pulled to within 23-20, Kapaa held strong and closed out the game with two straight points.
Mid-Pacific started quickly in Game 3, and established a 7-2 lead, but the Warriors stormed back to tie the game at 16. Kapaa then used a 6-2 run to catapult itself to a 22-18 advantage, and didn't relinquish the lead.
Reese Haine put down a match-high 11 kills for the Owls in the loss, and Bayly Buck added 12 digs.
Third place: Aiea def. Seabury Hall 19-25, 25-21, 25-23
Fifth place: Hawaii Baptist def. Waipahu 25-23, 28-26
Seventh place: Laupahoehoe def. Ka'u 15-25, 25-21, 25-17