KS-Hawai’i, Hilo Stay Home to Open State VB Tourney

Both Kamehameha-Hawai’i and Hilo wouldn’t mind a little bit of travel during the New City Nissan/Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division I Boys Volleyball Championships.

In order to get to Oahu, both squads will need to take advantage of home-court advantage during the first two rounds of the tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Koai’a Gym on the campus of KS-Hawai’i.

This year marks the second year of the regional format in the state volleyball tournament. This year’s version is tweaked to include more teams. Last year, KS-Hawai’i hosted Kamehameha-Kapalama, who won the night prior. This year, six teams will play at Koai’a Gym for the chance to get to the semifinals, which will be held May 15 at the Neal Blaisdell Center on Oahu.

Kamehameha-Hawai’i (15-0), under head coach Guy Enriques, received the second seed in the tournament. Last year’s state runner-up will play the winner of Friday’s Lahainaluna/Kalaheo match on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Punahou defeated KS-Hawai’i last year in the state final and earned the top seed in this year’s tournament. The Buffanblu remain on Oahu, where they will play at Moanalua High School against the winner of Friday’s Waipahu/Mililani match.

Hilo (12-3) will play Friday at 7 p.m. against Kahuku. The winner of that match will take on third-seeded King Kekaulike at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, also at Koaia Gym.

Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Moanalua received the third seed and will host the Oahu regional this weekend. Na Menehune will face the winner of Friday’s match between Kamehameha-Kapalama and Waipahu.

2015 New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball Championship schedule

Friday, May 8

Matches at Moanalua High School

Waianae vs. Mililani – 5 p.m.

Kamehameha-Kapalama vs. Waipahu – 7 p.m.

Matches at Kamehameha-Hawai’i’s Koai’a Gym

Lahainaluna vs. Kalaheo – 5 p.m.

Hilo vs. Kahuku – 7 p.m. (broadcast at ESPNHawaii.com)

Saturday, May 9

Matches at Moanalua High School

Waianae/Mililani loser vs. KS-Kapalama/Waipahu loser – 3:30 p.m.

Waianae/Mililani winner vs. #1 Punahou – 5 p.m.

KS-Kapalama/Waipahu winner vs. #3 Moanalua – 7 p.m.

Matches at Kamehameha-Hawai’i’s Koai’a Gym

Lahainaluna/Kalaheo loser vs. Hilo/Kahuku loser – Noon

Hilo/Kahuku winner vs. #4 King Kekaulike – 1:30 p.m. (broadcast at ESPNHawaii.com)

Lahainaluna/Kalaheo vs. #2 Kamehameha-Hawai’i – 3:30 p.m. (broadcast at ESPNHawaii.com)