HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Jeremy Kaimikaua put down a kill through the defense of Iolani's Pablo Warner in the first game of an ILH boys volleyball match. Punahou swept the match.
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Punahou rises to the occasion
Even perennial powerhouses need something to improve on.
Three-time state champion Punahou dominated rival Iolani for 48 points before nearly being extended to a third game behind a defense-spurred blitz by the No. 2 Raiders. The top-ranked Buffanblu withstood 15 kills from hitter Brad Lawson to prevail behind a balanced offensive attack, 25-17, 25-23 last night before a packed crowd at Iolani's gym.
Maddison McKibbin and Jeremy Kaimikaua combined to stuff the dangerous Lawson after a 13-3 run brought the home team within a point at 24-23, and the delirious Iolani fans were deflated while the Buffanblu let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Tell me about it," said McKibbin, a 6-foot-5 junior hitter. "They played good, I mean I can't take anything away from them. We were a little overconfident when we had that big lead on them, joking around."
The Buffs (13-0), who handed Iolani (10-2) its only other loss in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play, hadn't faced such a hostile environment all season. Meanwhile, the Raiders grew more confident late in Game 2 as their back-row players popped up ball after ball.
"I was so proud of them that they came back," said Iolani coach Mike Among. "They showed a little bit of fighting spirit. Actually, not a little bit -- a lot. We need to build on that. If we just play more steady, we can make a run and take a lead instead of playing catch-up."
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Henry Cassiday celebrated with teammates after putting down a kill in the second game last night at Iolani Gymnasium.
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Punahou was at its best when it spread the ball around to a wealth of hitters from several capable passers. Kaimikaua posted a team-high eight kills, while McKibbin added six and Taylor and Kaiwi Crabb chipped in four each. Erik Shoji notched 11 assists, while the 6-foot-5 McKibbin set up nine kills and Taylor Crabb six.
Besides Lawson's damage, the rest of the Raiders were contained to seven kills. After several straight attack errors helped undo the Raiders in Game 1, a comfortable 21-10 Punahou lead almost had a similar effect on the visitors in Game 2. Lawson pounded four kills and two consecutive balls hit out by Punahou swiftly changed the complexion of the game.
"By no means are we a finished product yet," Buffanblu coach Rick Tune said. " We got a little predictable, and the main thing I told our guys, we relaxed. Eight, nine points (up), we relaxed. We were on cruise control. I've coached these guys long enough where I see it in their eyes. And we let them back in the match pretty quickly. It's a good lesson for a young team."
Punahou already secured one of three ILH state berths by running the table in the first half of league play. Now, the main focus is playing well at the state tournament on Maui less than a month away.
"I think our team held pretty strong together and held through it," McKibbin said. "We had the same energy in the last three of our matches that we brought tonight, too."
Iolani, meanwhile, must ensure it remains in the top three of the standings. Of the Raiders' four remaining games, two are against Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific, which are within striking distance.