Could Kamehameha-Hawai’i be destined for a run toward another state championship match this season?
Guy Enriques doesn’t just think that his team can get there, but that his team may even have a better chance to get there this year than last. The Kamehameha-Hawai’i head coach watched his Warriors put together a clinic in almost every phase of the match, leading to a three-set sweep over Hilo in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I Championship Match at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium Saturday night.
“We’re more than a one-gun team,” said Enriques, referring to last year’s squad, which was led by standout Evan Enriques. “We can fire on every section of that net from the back row all the way across the front. And, we lost one guy. Everybody’s back and everybody’s a little better. That should lead to a little more confidence.”
Kamehameha-Hawai’i (15-0) showed off its arsenal Saturday night, led by senior Emmett Enriques, who had 16 kills and hit .306 for the match. Junior Isaiah Laeha added 10 kills and had a .400 attack percentage. For the match, the Warriors hit .402 with just seven attack errors.
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“Isaiah Laeha has been playing really solid the last month,” said Enriques. “It’s great to know that he’s just a junior. He’s got another year coming back, and we’re gonna need that. He’s gonna have to carry a heavy load next year.”
It didn’t come easy initially for Kamehameha-Hawai’i. Hilo held a two point lead near the midway point of the first set, but shot itself in the foot with a pair of errors. The Warriors took immediate advantage, not only taking the lead, but running away with the set from that point on.
After KS-Hawai’i had a routine second set win, both teams traded points through the early portion of the third set. Hilo could not find any way to attack a tough Warrior defense, and Kamehameha-Hawai’i ran away with the final set of the match.
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Hilo (12-3) hit just .096 for the match. Bradley Comilla led the way with 10 kills, but he also committed 12 attack errors. Justice Lord contributed 9 kills and hit .450.
“Hilo’s a really good team,” said Enriques of his team’s opponent. “You didn’t see it tonight. We did the little things. It helped to scout them out last night and see what they did, so we were prepared.”
Enriques found things to pick apart of his team’s performance, like his team’s lackluster service game. “Our serving is very tough. Tonight, I think if Hilo had passed a little better, we would’ve had a little tighter game.” The Warriors committed nine service errors for the match.
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Both teams will represent the BIIF in next week’s New City Nissan/Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division I Boys Volleyball Championships. Kamehameha-Hawai’i received the second seed and will host the Big Island regional on Friday and Saturday at Ko’aia Gym. The Warriors will face either Lahainaluna or Kalaheo on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Hilo won’t be traveling, either. The Vikings will play Kahuku on Friday at 7 p.m. The winner will take on fourth-seeded King Kekaulike at 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
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