Kai Enriques carried the Ka‘u volleyball team on his back, putting up monster numbers in one match that summarized his dominance. ADVERTISING Kai Enriques carried the Ka‘u volleyball team on his back, putting up monster numbers in one match that
Kai Enriques carried the Ka‘u volleyball team on his back, putting up monster numbers in one match that summarized his dominance.
The 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter didn’t lead the Trojans to a second straight BIIF title, but he accomplished the next-best thing, pushing the inexperienced squad to its full potential.
Enriques repeated as the BIIF Division II Player of the Year, in a vote by the league’s coaches, after the Trojans finished fifth at the HHSAA state tournament.
“It’s a big surprise. I didn’t think I’d get it again,” he said. “There were so many good players in Division II.”
Ka‘u senior setter/outside hitter Brian Gascon also repeated as an All-BIIF first-team selection, though he was listed as a middle blocker.
Hawaii Prep senior middle blocker Tucker Higgins landed on the first team. He was the only selection from the BIIF champion Ka Makani.
Honokaa senior middle Shyrome Batin, Kohala senior outside hitter Hana Caravalho, Konawaena senior middle Lena Santiago, and Pahoa senior hitter Torrell Thomas rounded out the first team.
Besides Enriques and Gascon, the only returning Trojans with experience were Anthony Emmsley-Ah Yee, an honorable-mention pick, and Joven Padrigo.
“We had a lot of first-year players,” Enriques said. “The biggest challenge was for everyone to stick together, and try to get everyone on the same level with the more experienced players.
“Actually, everyone caught on really quick. After that first game when we beat Keaau, I had a feeling the team could go really far this year. Everyone contributed to the team. The players on the bench pumped up the team. Everyone had to be a leader.”
Monster stats
Once on Oahu, Enriques put down Ruthian stats against first-round foe Hana, from the MIL, that ranks as one of the most dominant performances by a Trojan at states in the school’s history.
He slammed 41 kills on exactly 100 swings. That nearly matched his cousin and Kamehameha outside hitter Evan Enriques’ epic effort against Punahou in the Division I state final in 2012.
Back then, Evan Enriques clobbered 42 kills on a whopping 110 swings for the Warriors, who lost in five sets.
Like his cousin, Kai Enriques and the Trojans fell in five sets. It was a bittersweet feeling.
“I never realized how many kills I had. I was enjoying the game so much,” he said. “When I heard, I was pretty excited.
“But states was up and down. If we won that first game, we could have had a chance to go to the championship. But being there with the team and having fun was the best part.”
Like his cousins (Evan, Emmett, Addie and Avery Enriques) at Kamehameha, the Trojan senior isn’t the tallest outside hitter.
“I think my strength is ball-placement, hitting smart,” he said. “If the block is really big, I’ll look for a tool shot or tell the setter to send me the ball more outside, so I can hit a line shot.
“I try to visualize and see what’s on the other side of the net and have the block work more. If I put a ball down, it’s a good feeling.”
Off to Iowa
The good feeling won’t stop for Enriques, who has a scholarship package from Briar Cliff, an NAIA school in Iowa.
Toni Beck, a 2014 Ka‘u graduate, completed her freshman season for the Chargers, who qualified for the NAIA national championships. The Chargers will debut a men’s program for the 2015-16 season and Trevor Schirman, a 1986 Punahou graduate, will coach both teams.
Sharon Beck, the Ka‘u principal and Toni’s mom, urged Enriques to contact the Chargers and one thing led to another, and an opportunity opened up.
“I’m really grateful to go to college and experience what’s out there,” Enriques said. “Ever since Toni went to Briar Cliff, her mom has pushed me to strive for college and told me about the new men’s program. I tried for it and got it.”
Enriques has a 2.7 grade-point average and plans to major in sports science.
He’ll likely be a libero, but then again his size hasn’t stopped him before from lighting up taller teams.
“I’m pretty excited, just to do something that I love and that’s to play volleyball,” Enriques said. “My passion is volleyball, just the feeling of playing. For me, it’s really exciting.”
2014-15 All-BIIF
Boys Volleyball
Division II
First team
Shyrome Batin 12 middle blocker Honokaa
Hana Caravalho 12 outside hitter Kohala
Kai Enriques 12 outside hitter Ka‘u
Brian Gascon 12 middle blocker Ka‘u
Tucker Higgins 12 middle blocker Hawaii Prep
Lena Santiago 12 middle blocker Konawaena
Torrell Thomas 12 outside hitter Pahoa
Second team
Justin Agbayani 12 outside hitter Kohala
Abe Binder 12 middle blocker Hawaii Prep
Kysen Datuin 11 outside hitter Laupahoehoe
Damon Hertz 12 outside hitter Ka‘u
Kai Miller 12 libero Hawaii Prep
Bryce Weber 12 middle blocker CLA
Colin Yates 12 outside hitter Hawaii Prep
BIIF Division II Player of the Year
Kai Enriques, Ka‘u
BIIF Division II Coach of the Year
Joshua Ortega, Ka‘u
Honorable mention
HPA: Michael Ho (S), Ghar Phatz (OH), Ethan Stake (S)
Honokaa: Austin Ah Choy (MB), Vinsohn Basa (MB), Kapoe Esquerra (MB), Klayson Nobriga (S/OP)
Ka‘u: Anthony Emmsley-Ah Yee (OH), Mike Tamayo (MB)
Kohala: Kealen Figueroa (OH), Cole Fuertes (DS/L), Kala Jordan MB), Brayden Torres (OH)
Konawaena: John Kaawa (OH), Kealii Kuahala (DS/L), D’Angelo Vierra (MB), Kaulia Wall (S), Anthony Ward (OH)
Pahoa: Kili Oliveira (OH), Bryson Palama (OH), Joel Rosario Jr. (MB), Kaelen Sibucao-Kamakeeaina (OP)
