Kapaa High School’s varsity boys volleyball team defeated Konawaena in the quarterfinals of the New City Nissan Boys Volleyball State Championship — Division II state tournament. The No. 2 seeded Warriors beat the Wildcats of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation
Kapaa High School’s varsity boys volleyball team defeated Konawaena in the quarterfinals of the New City Nissan Boys Volleyball State Championship — Division II state tournament.
The No. 2 seeded Warriors beat the Wildcats of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in straight sets late Thursday afternoon at Kalani High School in Honolulu: 25-10, 25-15 and 25-13.
“We came in very excited, very anxious to play,” said Kapaa head coach Kapule Kaona in a phone interview Thursday. “I was a little bit concerned on how we’d be able to come out, being we haven’t played for almost two weeks. Since our last game, one of my concerns was how would we come out and respond in this kind of situation.
“It was probably one of our best starts we’ve ever had. The boys were fired up. They were dialed in,” he continued. “Everything that we wanted to happen happened tonight in a positive way.”
Warriors senior outside hitter Kurt Napoleon led the team with 12 kills, four aces and four blocks. Senior outside hitter Carson Schmick had eight kills and an ace. Senior middle Saxsen Shiira had eight kills and five blocks.
Warriors senior setter Jayson Hawthone had a game-high 34 assists. Sophomore libero Pomai Rabago-Kaiwi had six digs.
Viliami Kaea had eight kills and six digs for Konawaena. Benjamin McKinley had five kills, seven assists and two digs.
The Warriors’ semifinal match is scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Hawaii Baptist Academy in Honolulu.
Kapaa (13-0) will play the winner of the quarterfinals match between No. 3 Farrington of the Oahu Interscholastic Federation and Saint Francis of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
The result of that match at Kalani High was not available by press time.
“Watching the Farrington and Saint Francis game, they’re both athletic teams,” Kaona said. “It’s an up-and-up, exciting match that’s going on. Whoever we’ve got, we just want to go back tonight and tomorrow, watch some film and do some scouting reports on them, and see what we do to be able to work with their athleticism.”
Division II quarterfinals matches Thursday were:
w No. 1 Hawaii Baptist (ILH) 3, vs. Castle (OIA) 0
w No. 2 Kapaa (KIF) 3, Konawaena (BIIF) 0
w No. 3 Farrington (OIA) vs. Saint Francis (ILH), result not available by press time.
w No. 4 Molokai (MIL) vs. Hawaii Prep (BIIF), result not available by press time.
Information from Hawaii High School Athletic Association and ScoringLive contributed to this story.
