KAILUA-KONA — Behind the power of senior Anthony “Head” Trevino and the serving accuracy of sophomore standout Isaiah Hooper, Kealakehe managed to roll through Konawaena in straight sets on Thursday, despite the loss of their starting setter Ikaika Pali.
The Waveriders defeated the Wildcats 25-21, 25-11, 25-15.
Michael Gopaul filled the void at setter for the Pali, who rolled his ankle late in the first set against the Waiakea on Saturday.
“Because he got hurt we were forced to shuffle some things around,” Kealakehe head coach Kahinu Lee said. “Michael did very well under the circumstances. He had two days to become a setter and he did what I needed him to do.”
Hooper was nearly unstoppable at the service line, picking up six aces. His ball floated onto the other side of the court and the Konawaena defenders struggled to get a clean first hit. Hooper’s service game was at its peak midway through the opening set when he rolled off three aces in row to put Kealakehe up 11-8.
“He has a nice float serve and when it is working, it is pretty deadly,” Lee said. “He is only a sophomore too, so he is still learning.”
Trevino got off to a slow start but he found his rhythm late in the first set when he picked up three kills and a block to score four of his team’s final six points. He also closed out the final set with a flurry, picking up three straight kills to put the Waveriders up 20-10.
Up 23-15, Trevino spiked the ball over the net, picking up a point as a block attempt deflected the ball out of bounds. He followed that up with an ace at the service line for the game-winner.
“He is my team captain and the leader on the court so the boys rally around him,” Lee said. “When he starts getting hot, it makes the entire team push harder.”
Trevino finished with 11 kills. Hooper followed him with eight. Hooper also had two blocks.
The win allowed the Waveriders to rebound from their first loss of the season against Waiakea, moving to 4-1. The Wildcats fall to 3-2 on the season, with both their losses coming to their west side rival.
Kealakehe will be back in action on Saturday when they host Kamehameha. Konawaena will host Ka’u today.