Iolani has waited more than two decades for an Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys volleyball championship. Kamehameha
tops Iolani in 5By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comLast night, Kamehameha made sure the Raiders will have to wait at least two days longer.
Kamehameha, the defending ILH and state champion, survived an epic five-game battle to emerge with a 5-15, 15-7, 15-13, 7-15, 15-10 win over Iolani last night at the Raiders' gym.
The win gave the Warriors the ILH second-round title and forced a decisive rematch for the ILH championship. Iolani, the first-half champion, could have wrapped up the title with a victory last night.
Both teams have qualified for next week's state tournament in Hilo.
"It's just two champions going at each other, two quality teams," Kamehameha coach Pono Maa said. "They don't get any closer than that.
"I'm proud of my guys, they showed a lot of heart."
The championship match is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. tomorrow. The site had not been determined as of last night.
Isaac Kneubuhl led Kamehameha with 20 kills and three aces, while Jarrett Day contributed 17 kills and five blocks as the Warriors avenged their first-round loss to Iolani.
Both teams are now 14-1 in ILH play.
"It's great," Kneubuhl said of having to face Iolani again. "Now we both have one loss each and we're going to see who's the better team in the ILH."
Iolani looked like the superior team in the first game last night as the Raiders opened up a 13-2 lead and cruised to the win.
Kamehameha settled down in the second game and turned the tables on the Raiders with a 15-7 win.
"We have high expectations and I think they end up trying too hard," Maa said. "Once we relax and settle into our game we're able to start executing and start building momentum."
The teams traded blows throughout the pivotal third game as Kamehameha took a 7-4 lead only to see Iolani rally to tie the game and eventually take the lead.
A block by Kamehameha's Willy Melemai tied the game at 13, and Day hammered a kill from the back row to give the Warriors the lead. An Iolani hitting error then gave Kamehameha the game.
With the score tied at 7 in the fourth game, Iolani's Kawika Shoji served seven straight points. Chad Miller registered six kills and four blocks in the game as the Raiders stayed alive in the match.
Kamehameha took advantage of six Iolani errors to take a commanding 7-2 lead in the fifth game. The Warriors held off the Raiders the rest of the way and ended the match on a kill by Ioane Spencer.
Derrick Low led Iolani with 22 kills, with Todd Blankenship adding 19. Despite missing an opportunity, Iolani coach Luis Ramirez expects his team to rebound in time for the title match.
"These kids are athletes and they're used to playing at the highest level of competition," Ramirez said.
"We're happy we're fighting for the ILH championship, so we have nothing to lose and the kids know that."
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