It's tempting for Dayln Chock to keep feeding big No. 5.

But by resisting the urge to send every set Micah Christenson's way, Chock helped Kamehameha knock off No. 2 'Iolani last night in three sets.

“;They're probably expecting that I'm going to set Micah, and I have to spread it around,”; Chock said.

Chock distributed the sets early on and got the 6-foot-5 Christenson into the flow of the match as the fourth-ranked Warriors pulled out a 25-19, 23-25, 25-22 win at the Raiders' gym.

“;Coming after a tough loss against Punahou, to bounce back, especially against 'Iolani, it's a very big win for us,”; Kamehameha coach Guy Kaniho said.

Christenson, who helped the Kamehameha basketball team capture the Division I state championship last month, had 11 kills, while outside hitter Kahale Morgan had nine. Morgan and middle blocker Nolan Carter had four kills each as Kamehameha led throughout the first set.

“;(Chock's) our playmaker,”; Kaniho said. “;He distributed the sets well, got a rhythm going, especially in the first set and just was able to find our hitters and we were able to convert. ... I think he ran a pretty efficient offense tonight.”;

Defending state champion 'Iolani saw a 23-19 lead disappear in the second set, but held on to force a third set.

Kamehameha (4-2) led 11-7 in Set 3 after a Christenson ace, but 'Iolani battled back to tie the set at 14 on an ace by Chris Llarenas.

Kamehameha finally got separation when a diving dig by libero Mike Wasko set up Christenson's final kill to give the Warriors a 24-21 lead. After the last of David Fink's 13 kills kept the Raiders alive momentarily, Morgan's kill handed 'Iolani (6-1) its first loss in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play.

“;With Kamehameha coming in with two losses already, we knew they'd be fighting like warriors and they sure did,”; 'Iolani coach Mike Among said. “;They were firing and focused and we just didn't step up to the challenge until it was too late.

“;I think the difference was they served very tough. I think their game plan was to just go back there and rip their jump serves and it definitely gave us problems, because we were scrambling all night and they were able to set up their block. It's Volleyball 101, serving and passing.”;

Christenson didn't have much time to reflect on the Warriors' basketball title after scoring 26 points in a semifinal win over Kaimuki and 11 in the title game against Kahuku. He reported to volleyball practice the day after the final.

“;The transition was good, the team helped me get back in the groove,”; Christenson said.

While Christenson didn't have a kill in Set 1 last night, the distribution of the sets paid off for him later in the match.

“;Dayln did a great job just distributing the ball, making sure it wasn't only going to me or only going to Kahale,”; Christenson said. “;Nolan Carter was holding the middle every time, and I got one-on-one every time.”;

The Warriors will be back in the same gym today for a match with Le Jardin. 'Iolani will try to rebound against Word of Life.

“;It's early enough in the season, we've got guys in different positions, we've got new guys, we still need to jell as a team,”; Among said. “;I've been telling them, 'We're defending champions and we've got the bull's-eye.' Teams are going to gun for us, so we have to be ready to accept the challenge.”;

ILH

Varsity boys
Maryknoll def. Damien 19-25, 25-17, 25-21
Saint Louis def. Le Jardin 25-17, 25-21
Hawaii Baptist def. Mid-Pacific 25-17, 25-21
Punahou def. Word of Life 25-13, 25-4