HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kamehameha's Logan Keala and Bekah Torres tried to block Punahou's Anuhea Keanini.
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Kamehameha advances in ILH tiebreak
Once indomitable, the Kamehameha Warriors seemed a bit subdued last night.
Scared, flat or just tired from carrying a proverbial monkey on their backs, the Warriors came to life and rallied past Punahou 15-25, 25-18, 25-22 last night in the first leg of a two-round tiebreaker.
A tense crowd of about 800 at Punahou's Hemmeter Fieldhouse saw Kanani Herring slam 25 kills with two aces and a roof. Bekah Torres, who had only four kills, led a towering Kamehameha block that dominated the final game. Jordan Meredith finished with seven kills. She had just one ace, but her dominant serve swung momentum to the Warriors in the pivotal set.
Larissa Nordyke paced Punahou with nine kills. Liz Kaaihue and middle blocker Shawna-Lei Kuehu tallied eight kills each. Sophomore Anu Keanini added seven kills.
Tomorrow, Kamehameha (14-1) hosts Iolani (13-1) for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's first-round championship. Match time is tentatively set for 4:30 p.m. The winner will earn an automatic state-tournament berth.
Getting past Punahou (13-2) was easier said than done for Kamehameha, which opened the season at the top of the Star-Bulletin Girls Volleyball Top 10. At one point, the Warriors were ranked 12th in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.
It was a huge win for Kamehameha, which was swept by Punahou on the same floor on Sept. 16 -- 25-17, 25-23.
"We got a monkey off our back," coach Chris Blake said. "We had a cookie-cutter first set like we did in the first match."
Setter Kealohilani Kea had a rough start as well.
"I pulled Kea aside. I said, 'Just relax.' Our passing was OK, and once she got settled down, we had a lot of weapons," Blake said.
With Punahou ahead 19-18 in Game 3, Torres roofed Nordyke. Meredith's jump serve took command, forcing a Punahou lift for a 20-19 lead. Kea then delivered a long, cross-court set to Herring for another kill.
"I was just ripping it as hard as I could. If it's in, it's an ace," Meredith said.
After Torres' two-handed push landed gently in the Punahou back row and Herring pounded another kill, Kamehameha had a commanding 23-19 lead. Punahou got within 24-22, but Herring ended the match with her final kill.
"We served a lot tougher," Blake noted. "Punahou's a great ball-control team. Jordan's the reason why we can force them into bad plays."
The Warriors have not lost to Iolani in Kekuhaupio Gym since 2001, Blake said. He was an assistant coach at Iolani during that time, and Iolani went on to win the state title with Kanoe Kamana'o at setter.
Punahou, which won its first 13 matches in league play, now has to win the second round to earn a state berth.
Note: Kamehameha opened the week ranked No. 29 by PrepVolleyball.com. Punahou is No. 43.