Punahou rallies past Hawaii Baptist in volleyball

Kahale Clini pounded 21 kills and 5 aces as Punahou rallied for a 25-15, 23-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-8 win over Hawaii Baptist on Tuesday evening.

A pensive gathering at Dan Liu Gymnasium noticed the Eagles practically take the match in 4 units — which might have been HBA’s second victory over Punahou in as many tries.

As an alternative, Clini and his teammates clutched up and improved to 5-1 in ILH play.

“We gutted one out tonight. We didn’t play our greatest match, however we performed a terrific Set 1 and a terrific Set 5, and we gutted out a tricky Set 4,” Punahou coach Rick Tune stated. “We’ve acquired to get again within the gymnasium, preserve engaged on stuff and prepare for an additional battle in opposition to ‘Iolani on Friday.”

HBA dropped to 2-4 after shedding a key starter, Jared Cruz, within the ultimate moments of the fourth set.

“Our crew is so shut. They care in regards to the man. I believe they have been extra involved about him,” Eagles coach Teoni Obrey stated. “This can be a mentally powerful bunch. They sort of thrive on adversity, so I’m happy with them for doing that. We’ve acquired to repair just a few issues and attempt to get higher. We’ve acquired an enormous match on Friday. This group has an opportunity to be actual particular and do numerous good issues for our faculty.”

The fourth was tied at 20 with HBA forward two units to at least one when Cruz injured his left hand on a block try. Ian Kinney’s right-side kill gave the guests a 21-20 lead.

HBA acquired a kill from Presley Longfellow and a roof by Matt Mokan on Clini for a 22-21 edge. Nevertheless, kills by Adam Hadar and Clini despatched Punahou again in entrance, 23-22. Clini then iced the fourth set with back-to-back aces, forcing a fifth recreation.

Punahou then dominated as Clini racked up seven kills. With Brody Badham at serve, the Buffanblu opened the result in 9-2 and by no means appeared again.

Longfellow had eight kills to steer HBA. Jordon Qin added seven, and Mokan and Jackson Lincoln chipped in six kills every. Lincoln added 11 assists, whereas Kamden Kaneshiro-Takeuchi dished a team-high 16 assists.

Hadar was very lively and completed with 15 kills from the center. Kinney tallied 13 kills, Evan Porter had 12 kills and 7 digs, and James Taras added 10 kills. Matthew Chun had a team-high 10 digs.

Punahou’s freshman setters had one other superlative effort. Kanalu Akana had 33 assists, one ace and one block, and Elijah Smith had 32 assists and two aces. Akana and Smith have stuffed in since 6-foot-7 senior setter Aidan Rigg, a UC Irvine signee, suffered a leg damage in preseason.

Hawaii Baptist received the Seashore Metropolis Invitational (Calif.) two weekends in the past, then returned residence and reached the Gold Bracket semifinals of the Hawaii Boys Volleyball Invitational, falling to nationally ranked Beckman (Calif.) in most units.

Punahou’s progress has been no shock, but nonetheless mesmerizing to witness. Clini was chilly early with only one kill, three hitting errors and a service error whereas Punahou floor out a 15-12 lead within the opening set. He discovered his mark with two kills whereas teammate Colby Kitagawa landed two aces as Punahou closed the primary set with a 10-3 run.

A few of Punahou’s struggles have been self-inflicted. The Buffanblu had 4 internet violations and 7 service errors within the second set, and added seven extra service errors within the third.

“Bodily, it was about how locked in we have been. We have been making defensive rotation errors we weren’t making within the first set. Serving errors, not going by our serving routines. We acquired just a little tight due to it, began being particular person. We didn’t actually come collectively. This can be a new group collectively — all of the expertise on the earth, however they’ve acquired to play with the brilliant lights on and so they did that tonight,” Tune stated. “You noticed it in opposition to Kamehameha, noticed it in opposition to ‘Iolani. We simply must develop consistency. Their excessive is excessive, and they are often wobbly at instances.”

On Friday, HBA hosts Kamehameha, whereas Punahou travels to ‘Iolani.