Kamehameha and
Iolani meet in key
ILH volleyball match
Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys volleyball heavyweights Kamehameha and Iolani go head-to-head tomorrow night.
First place is on the line in the match between the two undefeated teams at 4:30 p.m. at the Iolani gym.
The Warriors (8-0) are the defending league champions, but the Raiders (9-0) climbed all the way to third place in the state tournament a year ago.
"During the past several years, it's been a big match between us," Kamehameha assistant coach Mike Among said.
Among has been leading the Warriors in practice the past few days while head coach Pono Maa mourns a death in his family.
"I'm sure (the match) will be a feeling-out type of situation. They've got a lot of weapons, so we can't just key on one guy."
Kamehameha's leaders include setter Ainoa Miyashiro and hitter Adam Tuifagu, while middle blocker Ernie Vidinha adds versatility by being able to play on the back row, too.
"That's something you normally don't see," Among added.
Iolani is led by setter Sean Carney, middle blockers Todd Blankenship and B.J. Takushi, hitters Kawika Shoji and Kyle Pape and back row specialist Michael Contee.
"We're really balanced this year, and if we play our game, we'll be OK," Iolani coach Luis Ramirez said. "Kamehameha has really good ball control --Ainoa is one of the best setters in the state --and we're expecting a tough match."
Ball control is something Iolani has more of this year than in the past, according to Among.
"That's (ball control) something that has separated us from some teams in the past. We like to pride ourselves on it," Among said. "The last match I saw them play, I noticed that Iolani has really improved in that area."
He said the team is already feeling those inevitable butterflies before big matches.
"It's OK to have them," Among said. "You just have to channel that energy the right way."
Beware of the Waveriders: Honokaa has lost to the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's three main football contenders -- Kealakehe (5-1, 5-0), Waiakea (5-0, 4-0) and Hilo (4-1, 4-1).
"Of the three, I think Kealakehe is the strongest," Dragons coach Paul Purdy said.
"They've got outstanding team speed, especially on defense where they go ahead and let their safeties and linebackers run."
The Waveriders have two outstanding running backs in James Kamoku and Gino Tahara and a solid quarterback in Michael Kaniho, according to Purdy.
"Hilo also has an outstanding running game and is strong up front on defense," Purdy said. "And Waiakea has a quick running back that they like to give it to, and their quarterback is a pretty good passer."
Despite its losing record, Honokaa (1-5, 1-4) is still alive in the league's Division II race. The Dragons are chasing Hawaii Prep (2-4, 2-2) and Konawaena (2-3, 2-2) for the Big Island's berth into the inaugural Division II state tournament.
Purdy thinks games against the league's iron early in the season will help them in the long run.
Quarterback Kinau Puhi, running back Brian Ayoso and wide receiver Pono Kahanui are among the Dragons' team leaders.
Teams clinch: Two football teams have qualified for the first two-tiered state tournament and both are from the three-team Kauai Interscholastic Federation.
Waimea (3-1, 1-1) clinched before the season began because the Menehunes are the only Division II team on the Garden Isle.
Kauai (3-2, 3-0) made it to its first Division I tournament when Waimea beat Kapaa 20-0 last weekend to eliminate the Warriors (1-4, 0-3).
The Raiders visit the Menehunes in a duel for first place Friday night at Hanapepe Stadium.
"Our goal before the season was to make it to the states, but our ultimate goal is to win the KIF," Kauai coach Kelii Morgado said.
"It's hard to celebrate now because we're only halfway through the season."
Several other teams clinched league playoff berths last weekend --Kahuku (5-0, 4-0) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East Conference, Mililani (6-0, 5-0) in the OIA Red West, and Kapolei (6-0, 5-0) and Aiea (5-1, 5-0) in the OIA White.
Two weeks ago, Baldwin (6-0, 4-0) wrapped up the Maui Interscholastic League's first-round title.
Unbeatens meet up: In a key OIA East girls volleyball match tonight at 6, Kalani (7-0) visits Moanalua (7-0).
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Athletes of the Week
Boys
>> Luke Oda, Iolani water polo: Scored three goals in a 7-5 upset win over Punahou.
Girls
>> Mona Ale, Kahuku volleyball: Had eight kills in a key OIA East victory over Farrington.
Honor Roll
Football
>> Travis Beyer, Kamehameha: Rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Iolani.
>> Stanley Nihipali and Desmond Hanohano, Saint Louis: Nihipali threw for 257 yards, while Hanohano caught TD passes of 62 and 76 yards in a win over Pac-Five.
>> Quintin Tang, Moanalua: Scored two touchdowns in the Menehunes' first victory over the year -- 14-0 over Waialua.
>> Damien Torres, Kailua: Rushed for 184 yards and two TDs in a win over McKinley.
>> Chris Lave, Waianae: Rolled for 226 yards rushing and four TDs in a victory over Pearl City.
>> Steven Pratt, Kaiser: Passed for 200 yards in a loss to Radford.
>> Micah Strickland and John Morris, Punahou: Strickland rushed for 176 yards and Morris passed for 232 in a win over Damien.
Bowling
>> Jeremy Yasutake, Damien: Rolled a 255 in a win over Hawaii Baptist.
>> Noemi Solano, Pearl City: Bowled a 256 in a win over Nanakuli.
Kayaking
>> Peter Van Ribbink, Iolani: Won the boys 2,000-meter event at a meet at Ala Wai.
>> Halli Van Lier Ribbink, Punahou: Captured the girls 2,000 meters.
Cross Country
>> Nicole Anderson and Jon Yasuda, Iolani: Won the Kamehameha Invitational individual races.
Air riflery
>> Blake Cuban, Saint Louis: Scored 274 in a win against Mid-Pacific.
>> Shannon Li and Deana Sin, Sacred Hearts: Both shot 266 in a win over Mid-Pacific.
>> Christopher Ayson, Leilehua: Scored 260 in a victory over Radford.
>> Ryan Naka, Kalani: Scored 260 in a win over McKinley.
Hawaii School Web Sites
