[ BOYS VOLLEYBALL ]
Mililani beats Waimea
The Trojans bounce back from
a Game 1 deficit to advance
Mililani dug out of a deep Game 1 hole to sweep Waimea 26-24, 25-22 last night in the first round of the Nissan Boys State Volleyball Championships at McKinley High School.
CORRECTION
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2003>> Ikaika Shelton plays on the Kamehameha volleyball team. His name was misspelled as Sheldon in stories on Page B1 yesterday and Page B7 Wednesday.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.High-flying Waimea, the Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion, grabbed a 10-3 lead in Game 1 and was one point away from victory at 24-23 on Joshua Cabral's kill.
But the Trojans (13-1) kept fighting and tied it at 24 on Scott Neumann's kill. After a Waimea mistake gave Mililani a 25-24 lead, Tyson Perry's kill ended it.
"I honestly don't know how we won that first game," Trojans coach Kauanoe Eldredge said. "We were shaky at the beginning. And even though we weren't spectacular after that, it was great to see the kids dig deep for a win like that and to take comfortable control in Game 2."
On the setting of Brandon Caban, Aaron Fujimoto's three kills were instrumental in helping the Trojans cut a 21-16 deficit to 23-21.
The second game was tight all the way until 9-9 when Mililani took over and gained a hefty 21-14 advantage on the hitting of Fujimoto, Scott Neumann and Puna Neumann.
"We came in cold," Fujimoto said. "When we were losing by seven in that first game, we talked in the huddle, saying 'we better pick it up now.' We began to get emotional and loud and we picked up our defense and passing."
But Waimea made a game of it. Led by the hitting of Casey Kaohelaulii and Cabral and the blocking of Jeremy McDown and John Karratti, the Menehunes (7-3) cut it to 23-21, but Puna Neumann finished the match with a pair of kills.
"We played as well as we could have played," Waimea coach Bobby Kamakele said. "We play against good competition on Kauai, but the competition here is a little better. They're playing against a lot of good teams week in and week out."
Mililani plays third-seeded Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Kealakehe (15-3) at 3:30 p.m. today in the quarterfinals at McKinley.
The big early lead may have backfired against the Menehunes.
Fujimoto thinks Waimea may have gotten overconfident, because he has seen the same problem in his own team at times when they go up by a bunch of points.
"If our kids did get overconfident, it was my misfortune to let that happen," Kamakele said.
Kaohelaulii had a simple answer for Waimea's failure to maintain the lead.
"We choked," he said. "We knew Mililani was a good team because we watched them on TV against Kahuku. We thought we had prepared for them, but we weren't ready for the real thing."
Fujimoto and Puna Neumann had 11 kills each for the Trojans. Kaohelaulii led Waimea with seven kills and Cabral added six and three scoring blocks.
Waimea plays Campbell in a consolation match today at 2.
Waiakea 2, Kalaheo 1: The Warriors lost the first game, but battled back for a 23-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory.
"Our defense really stepped it up tonight," Waiakea coach Emil Osorio said. "We're usually more of an offensive team, but tonight we tried really hard on defense and played smart on offense with good shot selection."
Napua Cabatu pounded 15 kills for the Warriors.
Waiakea (15-4) meets second-seeded Seabury Hall (10-1) in the quarterfinals tonight at 5.
"We lost, but we gave it all we had and didn't leave anything on the court," said Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni, whose team dropped to 10-3.
Sam Wilhoite had 10 kills and three scoring blocks and Elias Ayau had nine kills and five aces for the Mustangs.
Maui 2, Campbell 0: In a battle of two teams named Sabers, the Valley Isle boys got nine kills and three aces from Ikon-Kai Wood, eight kills from Kalaniku Clark and seven kills from Jeff Skrotzki in the 25-17, 25-18 sweep.
John Taitin led Campbell (11-3) with eight kills.
Maui (9-4) moves on to play top-seeded ILH champion Iolani (15-2) in the quarterfinals tonight at 6:30 at McKinley.
Kamehameha 2, Ka'u 0: Adam Tuifagu delivered nine kills as the Warriors swept the Trojans 25-17, 25-14.
ILH runner-up Kamehameha (16-2) advanced to play OIA champion Kahuku (11-1) tonight at 8 in the quarterfinals.
"I'm glad we got this win over with," Warriors coach Pono Ma'a said. "It was a good way to get started in the tournament and a good way of getting the kinks out. We know Kahuku is a good team, but every team in this final 12 is good. Tomorrow night, we go back to work."
The setting of Ainoa Miyashiro was also a big factor in the win for the Warriors, who also got four scoring blocks from Ikaika Sheldon.
Elias Navarro led Ka'u with a match-high 10 kills.
"The boys weren't themselves tonight," Trojans coach DeAnna Navarro said. "I don't know what happened. Kamehameha's tough and just a good team. For our boys, getting off the plane and playing in a big state game is a big change."
Ka'u (12-6) plays a consolation game tomorrow against Kalaheo.
State Volleyball
Boys
First three days at McKinley High Gym, final day at Stan Sheriff Center.Seeds: 1. Iolani (ILH); 2. Seabury Hall (MIL); 3. Kahuku (OIA); 4. Kealakehe (BIIF).
YESTERDAY
Match 1: Maui def. Campbell 25-17, 25-18
Match 2: Waiakea def. Kalaheo 23-25, 25-22, 25-23
Match 3: Mililani def. Waimea 26-24, 25-22
Match 4: Kamehameha def. Ka'u 25-17, 25-14TODAY
Match 5: Campbell vs. Waimea, 2 p.m.
Match 6: Kealakehe vs. Mililani, 3:30 p.m.
Match 7: Seabury Hall vs. Waiakea, 5 p.m.
Match 8: Iolani vs. Maui, 6:30 p.m.
Match 9: Kahuku vs. Kamehameha, 8 p.m.TOMORROW
Match 10: Kalaheo vs. Ka'u, 2 p.m.
Match 11: Losers of Matches 6 & 8, 3:30 p.m.
Match 12: Losers of Matches 7 & 9, 5 p.m.
Match 13: Winners of Matches 6 & 8, 6:30 p.m.
Match 14: Winners of Matches 7 & 9, 8 p.m.FRIDAY
Match 15: Winners of Matches 5 & 10, noon
Match 16: Winners of Matches 11 & 12, 1:30 p.m.
Match 17: Losers of Matches 13 & 14, 4:30 p.m.
Match 18: Winners of Matches 13 & 14, 7 p.m.
Girls
First three days at Hemmeter Fieldhouse, Punahou, final day at Stan Sheriff Center.Seeds: 1. Kalani (OIA); 2. Punahou (ILH); 3. St. Joseph (BIIF); 4. Seabury Hall (MIL).
YESTERDAY
Match 1: Roosevelt def. Hawaii Prep 25-22, 25-19
Match 2: Moanalua def. Kauai 25-23, 25-20
Match 3: Kamehameha-Oahu def. Kealakehe 25-15, 25-17
Match 4: Kahuku def. Kamehameha-Maui 25-13, 25-19TODAY
Match 5: Hawaii Prep vs. Kealakehe, 2 p.m.
Match 6: St. Joseph vs. Moanalua, 3:30 p.m.
Match 7: Seabury Hall vs. Kamehameha-Oahu, 5 p.m.
Match 8: Punahou vs. Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
Match 9: Kalani vs. Roosevelt, 8 p.m.TOMORROW
Match 10: Kauai vs. Kamehameha-Maui, 2 p.m.
Match 11: Losers of Matches 7 & 9, 3:30 p.m.
Match 12: Losers of Matches 6 & 8, 5 p.m.
Match 13: Winners of Matches 6 & 8, 6:30 p.m.
Match 14: Winners of Matches 7 & 9, 8 p.m.FRIDAY
Match 15: Winners of Matches 5 & 10, 9 a.m.
Match 16: Winners of Matches 11 & 12, 10:30 a.m.
Match 17: Losers of Matches 13 & 14, 3 p.m.
Match 18: Winners of Matches 13 & 14, 8:30 p.m.
