Don’t look because the Kamehameha volleyball team is flying under the radar with a 10-0 record, but on deck is the league’s top guns.
Despite missing three starters for good reasons, including seniors Kailee Yoshimura, an opposite, and Kaui Cabatu, a defender, and junior middle blocker Tehani Kupahu-Canon, the Warriors swept Kealakehe 25-18, 25-19, 25-23 in a BIIF Division I match on Saturday at Koaia Gym, but the road is going to get tougher starting today.
The Warriors hit the road first to battle the blossoming powerhouse of Hilo (8-1) at the Vikings Gym.
Then Kamehameha hosts defending BIIF champion Waiakea (11-0) on Thursday in a potential clash of unbeatens. (Hilo will have large say in that.)
On Friday, the Warriors host a healthy Konawaena (4-4) in a rematch. When the two played on Aug. 27, Wildcat senior Celena Molina was out with an injured ankle.
“The kids are excited. It will really be a challenge, but we’re looking forward to it,” Kamehameha coach Sam Thomas said. “We’ve been playing up and down all season. We’ll have sets of brilliance, intermingled with total confusion at some point in time.”
The reason for that is the graduation of Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker, now at Cal State Northridge. She was the last connecting piece to the grand old guard, which won four BIIF titles (2011-14) under the direction of Kaiulani Ahuna and Zoe Leonard.
Last year, the Warriors finished as the BIIF runner-up for the first time since 2009. They’ve been to the HHSAA state tournament the last 12 years.
It’ll be a musical chairs slugfest with Waiakea and Hilo standing in the way. But Kamehameha has a fighting chance because of Yoshimura and Cabatu.
At 5 feet 10, Yoshimura is a solid blocker from the right post, defending the opposing team’s L1 or left-side No. 1 hitter, often the most critical matchup.
On the other side of the ball, Cabatu has a resume filled with aces. And tough serving is the best way to start scoring runs or throw cold water on a foe’s momentum.
“Kaui is very steady. She’s a quiet girl, but she brings stability to the team,” Thomas said. “And she’s a very tough server. She can drop a short serve on you before you know it, and she can hit her targets.
“Kailee puts up a big block, and she’s a hammer. Hitting from the right side, she gives our offense balance.”
Best of all, Thomas appreciates the leadership council of Yoshimura, Cabatu, and Cienna Daog, a 5-8 middle.
“Those three seniors decided to have an inclusiveness with all their teammates and be leaders,” he said. “They’re continuously working on an ohana-like spirit amongst the team.”
Team chemistry is always good, but nothing makes Yoshimura’s life easier than a clean set. If she’s pounding balls from the right, the left side should get one-on-one attacks.
That’s all dependent on the team’s setters, Ah Choy and Kiani “Kiki” Troy. Thomas noted the cousins are clones as Warriors.
“They’re good kids, smart kids with nice hands,” he said. “Kiki knows the game really well from a technical side. She’ll be a great referee.”
Young Kiki has time on her side to wear a black and white uniform. She and her cousin are juniors. They and the rest of the Warriors have a very busy week ahead.
Duke’s job
The Waveriders (3-8) don’t have a thunderbolt hitter, at least not yet, but coach Duke Hartfield knows a good thing when he sees it.
He’s got a nice package of potential in Valany Gonsalves, who served three straight aces to deliver Kealakehe a 22-21 lead in Set 3 against the Warriors on Saturday.
“No. 7 (Gonsalves) had an amazing game,” Hartfield said. “She’s a freshman and aggressive. She’s not afraid of anything.”
Like Kamehameha, Kealakehe lost its best player from last year in big-time hammer Nika Paogofie-Buyten, who’s playing rugby at Lindenwood University in Missouri.
Nicole Cristobal, at opposite, and Hopoe Napoleon-Martins, a middle, both received All-BIIF honorable mention last year.
Cristobal has changed positions to middle. The senior injured her ankle during the Waiakea preseason tournament and just returned to action.
She and Napoleon-Martins, a junior, push Kealakehe’s energy level
“It’s been a challenging year because of injuries,” Hartfield said. “It’s the first week we’ve had everybody back.
“They’re resilient. They’re growing every day. They’re willing to take constructive criticism and put it to good use. They keep showing up and continue to work hard.”
And like the Warriors, the Waveriders have reliable senior leaders.
“Abcde Tan really helps bring the team together,” Hartfield said. “And Nicole, even when she was on crutches, she was at every practice and every game supporting her team.
“That’s what it’s been like. The girls have been really positive with each other.”