It is evident that when Maui High boys volleyball coach Kenneth Houpo Jr. speaks about Andrew Guzman, he does so with overwhelming pride. 

Guzman, a senior setter and fourth-year starter for the ninth-ranked Sabers (10-0), has come a long way in his time with the program, to say the least. In fact, it wasn't until his ninth grade year that Guzman picked up the sport. It didn't take long, however, for the then-freshman to catch the attention of Houpo. 

"His freshman year he came out and he wanted to be an outside hitter, but I saw his hands and I said, ‘Sorry, bro, you're gonna be a setter,' and now he's become probably one of the better setters I've seen in a while," Houpo said. 

When Guzman first joined the team, he was basketball player learning the nuances of a brand new sport. 

"He had no idea actually about playing volleyball because he was a basketball player and basketball players are always looking to become outside hitters," Houpo said. 

Houpo early on saw the potential for a savvy distributor in Guzman. 

"He was hitting balls and I remember looking at one of my coaches and I said, ‘He's got nice hands,' so I approached Andrew about becoming a setter and he accepted it — only because he didn't really know anything about volleyball," Houpo laughed. 

While Houpo believed that Guzman had the athleticism to become a setter, teaching him the finer points of the art would take time. The thing is, Guzman was up to the task and put in the necessary sweat equity, to be sure. 

"Because he was a basketball athlete, he already had the skills of jumping and timing, but setting was brand new to him and we just worked on it all the time. That's when I told him he needed to find a club and play club ball," Houpo said. 

Guzman heeded his coach's advice and did just that. He started out playing with the Maui-based Hawaiian Style Volleyball Club for a few years before he made the commitment to join Oahu-based Spike and Serve. 

"That was sophomore year that he went to SAS and he just kept working on his game no matter what. He would fly to Honolulu every other week, sometimes every other day for practices, so the effort he put in is amazing and it's not just him. A bunch of our boys all play for the same team, SAS 18s-2," Houpo said. 

Houpo added that even outside of club practices, Guzman can often be found at open gyms playing pick-up games. 

"He's just always willing to learn, listen, follow directions and whatever game plan you have, he's open to it. He also gives suggestions and he's really like a coach on the court now. He's the team leader that you're looking for, especially in a setter and I think setting is the hardest part, right? You're probably going to catch all the cracks when we're not winning and when we are, you won't get all the glory — welcome to the position," Houpo said. 

Despite the late start to volleyball, Guzman's teammates thought enough of him as a freshman to vote him to a captain position right off the bat. 

"At the beginning he didn't understand what his role was, but as the years went on, he just learned and got better and better and now, even if he's not on the floor he's still on the sideline playing coach and it's never anything negative out of him. If someone makes a mistake, he'll encourage them. If someone gets a kill, he's cheering for them, so he just brings that whole vibe of energy and it's really important for our team because we have players that put themselves down when they're not playing well and he'll help change that around, so his role as a captain, player and teammate on and off the court is huge," Houpo expressed. 

Part of Guzman's baptism by fire learning the setting position was about staying even keel and tempering his emotions and expectations, both of himself and his teammates. 

"His freshman year was probably frustrating for him, but we worked on it. There would be times that he would put up a good set, good location, but the hitter didn't finish. I would tell him that we can't always have our cake and ice cream and that he had to go with the flow, so he's learned that even if his location is there and we don't put the ball away, we'll move forward and even if it's not a good location and the hitter puts a good swing on it, to not be too hard on himself and that's kind of the attitude that he's developed over these four years," Houpo said. 

Guzman took that advice to heart and has become a beacon of positivity ever since. Houpo noted that Guzman infectious attitude tends to permeate wherever he goes. 

"He just lights up the practice. Just watch him and whever he's around, the whole gym lights up and the good vibes are all over the place. He just always looks like he's having a blast and that extends to the other boys; I'm probably the only one that's nervous," Houpo chuckled. 

Guzman has long ago made the transformation from hooper to a gym rat of a different kind. It is undeniable that he has come to love the sport of volleyball, which is evident in the amount of time he spends on the court. 

"He just keeps working. He's developed this great volleyball IQ, he plays all six rotations so he almost never leaves the court, he's probably the hardest worker in the gym and so we're lucky to have him. He's really come a long way; from someone who wasn't even a volleyball player to where he is now, which is amazing," Houpo said. 

Guzman is one of eight seniors on this year's team and most of them have been with the program for four years, including twin pin hitters Luke and Zachary Prangnell and opposite Samuel Cummings. 

"They all came to me as freshmen and we pretty much started from there. That year we probably had one or two seniors, but the rest of the lineup were all freshmen. Now they're seniors and they're having a blast together this season. Just makes you realize how fast the time has gone by," Houpo said. 

Over the course of Guzman's four years, the Sabers have shown improvement with each season. They posted a 5-8 record and finished fourth out of five Division I teams in the Maui Interscholastic League in Guzman's freshman year. 

The following season saw Maui High record a second-place finish with a 10-6 overall record. Guzman helped the Sabers qualify for the state tournament, but they were bounced in the first round by Roosevelt. 

The 2025 season was a breakthrough one for the team, which ran the table in league play and took an unblemished 14-0 record into the state tournament. After a first-round bye, the Sabers pulled out a five-set win over Campbell in the quarterfinals. Guzman tallied 45 assists, 11 digs, three kills, an ace and was in on four blocks in the win. However, the Sabers were swept by eventual-champion Punahou in the semifinals the following day. 

Houpo's squad went on to finish fourth after falling to Moanalua in the third-place match. 

"That first year we lost to Roosevelt we weren't happy with how it ended, but we worked hard again and were a bit more prepared last year but we just couldn't get past Punahou and that was a learning lesson for myself to understand what I've got to do to make sure my boys are ready to compete," Houpo said. 

Last season's final four appearance has fueled the Sabers this year, which included a couple of preseason trips to Oahu. 

"We played in the Iolani tournament, the Pearl City tournament, we played Moanalua, Kamehameha, HBA, Mililani, all just to get a feel for them because we figured if we were able to get back to the state tournament that we were probably going to see them," Houpo said. 

The Sabers put forth a strong showing at Iolani's Hawaii Boys Volleyball Invitational in late March, enough to finish fourth in the silver bracket and 12th overall. Guzman turned enough eyes to be named to the all-tournament team. 

It was just the latest recognition for Guzman, who was selected by MIL coaches as the league's Player of the Year following his junior season. 

"He works so hard and he deserves all of the accolades that have come his way, but the one thing about Andrew is he's not really looking for that recognition, he's just out there working. He never takes himself too seriously and that vibe that he brings will probably follow him through the rest of his life. I've never seen him not be able to handle anything negative, he always takes it with a grain of salt and just goes back to working," Houpo said. 

Guzman is averaging 9.4 assists per set this season. He has also recorded 28 digs and 15 aces, as well as 26 kills. 

"He's been getting a couple of kills here and there this year. It helps us because it keeps the defense on their toes and when he hits it, nobody is up, so it's been a nice addition to our attack this year," Houpo noted. 

In sweeps of Baldwin and Lahainaluna last week, Guzman totaled 67 assists, seven kills, three aces, four kills and one block. This week he tallied 56 assists, six digs, five kills, five aces and a block in straight-set victories over Kamehameha-Maui and Kekaulike. 

"To see how far he's come it's just amazing. It's the most amazing feeling besides having grandkids for me — it's very emotional. But it hasn't come without the work that he's put in. He's just always working on his craft. I've never seen anything that he does other than volleyball. I should probably tell him, ‘bro, you need to pick up a hobby,' " Houpo laughed. 

Houpo, who is employed at a golf course in central Maui, joked that golf certainly shouldn't be that hobby for Guzman, who will attend Santa Monica College next year. 

"I took the whole team one day to play golf — it was a team bonding thing — and he was horrible. He said, ‘coach, I don't like this game,' and I said, ‘that's OK, you can't be good at everything,' " Houpo quipped. 

Guzman and the Sabers close out the MIL regular season against Kamehameha-Maui Thursday night at the Shine "Izumi" Maui Athletic Complex. 

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Hayden Agbayani, Maryknoll — Had 45 set assists, eight digs, one kill and an ace in a four-set win over Hawaiian Mission and had 55 set assists, 11 digs and three kills in a five-set loss to University Lab 

Jess Bridges, Castle — Had 38 set assists, 10 digs, two kills, two block assists and two aces in a five-set win over Roosevelt 

Caleb Coggins, Radford — Had 19 digs and two set assists in a three-set win over Aiea 

Alika Cummings, Kaiser — Had 29 digs, four set assists and two aces in a five-set win over Waianae 

Lionel Gannon, Moanalua — Had 29 kills, one solo block, one block assist and one set assist in a four-set win over Kahuku 

Dillon Hall, Kaiser — Had 11 kills, 10 digs and one set assist in a three-set win over Anuenue and had 16 kills, nine digs, five aces and one block assist in a five-set win over Waianae 

Isaiah Holeso, Mililani — Had 32 set assists, two digs, one kill and an ace in a three-set win over Campbell 

Hoaka Holts, Castle — Had 13 digs, 13 set assists, eight kills, two block assists and one solo block in a four-set loss to Kahuku and had 18 kills, seven digs, four set assists, three block assists and one ace in a five-set win over Roosevelt 

Reis Hughes, Kaiser — Had 19 kills, 13 digs, two aces and one set assist in a five-set win over Waianae 

Dahven Hutchinson, Aiea — Had 12 kills, 11 digs, two block assists and one ace in a five-set win over Campbell 

Kili Ilae, Maryknoll — Had 24 kills, four digs, three aces and one block assist in a four-set win over Hawaiian Mission and had 26 kills and four digs in a five-set loss to University Lab 

Piikoa Kamoku, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 13 kills, 15 digs, two block assists and one ace in a five-set win over Kekaulike 

Iverson Kurisu, Campbell — Had 15 kills, five digs and one block assist in a five-set loss to Aiea 

Keanu Lee, Maryknoll — Had 19 kills, six digs and two aces in a five-set loss to University Lab 

Brave Lemau, Waialua — Had 22 set assists, 10 digs, four kills and one ace in a four-set loss to Kalaheo 

John Jacob Marfil, Nanakuli — Had 32 set assists, six digs, four block assists, two aces and one kill in a three-set win over Kalaheo 

Jacob Nahulu, Nanakuli — Had 15 kills, six digs, four block assists and one ace in a three-set win over McKinley and had 16 kills, four block assists and three digs in a three-set win over Kalaheo 

Landon Paahana, Leilehua — Had 17 set assists, 11 kills, 10 digs, two block assists and one ace in a four-set loss to Radford 

Alec Pao, Waialua — Had 19 kills, 10 digs, two aces, one set assist and a solo block in a four-set loss to Kalaheo 

Tyler Payne, Leilehua — Had 15 kills, four digs, three aces and two block assists in a four-set loss to Radford 

Pau Spencer, Kamehameha-Maui — Had 19 kills, 11 digs, 20 set assists and one block assist in a five-set win over Kekaulike 

Titimaea Tauanuu, Aiea — Had 12 kills, 24 set assists, six digs, three aces, two block assists and one solo block in a win over Campbell 

Kester Tosh, Kahuku — Had 24 kills and one block assist in a four-set loss to Moanalua 

Royce Turman, Leilehua — Had 15 kills, one block assist and one set assist in a four-set loss to Radford 

Kellan Young, Kaiser — Had 53 set assists, 16 digs and one ace in a five-set win over Waianae 

BASEBALL

Devin Alpin, Kau — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, three RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a loss to Hawaii Prep 

Ryder Asuncion, Waipahu — Batted 2 for 4 with two doubles, one walk, three RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Waialua 

Rory Crabbe, Honokaa — Struck out 13 batters, walked one and allowed two hits in a complete-game shutout of Kohala 

Aeden Dikilato, Waipahu — Batted 3 for 5 with a double, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored in a win over Waialua 

Mackie Doi, Roosevelt — Batted 4 for 5 with a triple, five RBI and a run scored in a win over Leilehua 

Kallen Kameoka, Moanalua — Struck out five batters, walked three and allowed three hits in a complete-game win over Kailua 

Kahiau Kaowili-Sanitan, Castle — Struck out 10 batters, walked one and allowed four hits in a four-inning shutout of McKinley 

Reece Maruyama, Waipahu — Allowed one unearned run on one hit with four strikeouts and no walks in a complete-game win over Kapolei 

Desten Napierala, Waianae — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, one walk, three RBI and one run scored in a win over Campbell 

Josyah Napoleon-Umeda, Honokaa — Batted 3 for 3 with a home run, two doubles, one walk, four RBI and two runs scored in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Lucas O'Brien, Kalaheo — Struck out eight batters, walked one and allowed one run on one hit in a five-inning win over Nanakuli 

Baylor Pang, Castle — Batted 3 for 4 with three RBI, one stolen base and three runs scored in a win over McKinley 

Samsyn Quel, Waianae — Batted 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Campbell 

Jayden Salazar, Honokaa — Struck out 13 batters, walked none and allowed two hits in a six-inning shutout of Kohala and batted 2 for 4 with a double, two RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a win over Kohala 

FLAG FOOTBALL

Taimane Amisone, Kapolei — Threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-32 passing with an interception in a win over Waipahu and threw for 308 yards and six touchdowns on 20-of-30 passing without an interception and ran 12 times for 72 yards in a win over Pearl City 

Jazmin Anjolok, Pearl City — Recorded 12 flag pulls, including two sacks, intercepted two passes and broke up another pass in a win over Radford and had 10 flag pulls in a loss to Kapolei 

Charyssa Asinsin, Nanakuli — Threw for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 5-of-5 passing without an interception, caught nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and recorded eight flag pulls with three interceptions and two pass break ups in a win over Aiea 

Rhaziah'lynn Fuller-Williams, Nanakuli — Ran 11 times for 128 yards and a touchdown in a win over Campbell 

Infinitiz Galeano-Soares, Kapolei — Caught six passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Pearl City 

Breidi-Ann Higa, Moanalua — Threw for 320 yards and eight touchdowns on 18-of-29 passing without an interception in a win over Kahuku 

Kawena-Lynn Kalina, Waianae — Threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-42 passing without an interception in a win over Leilehua 

Aydrianah Kam, Kapolei — Recorded five sacks in a win over Pearl City 

Jourdyn Kekauoha-Viena, Kalaheo — Caught two touchdown passes and interceped two passes in a win over Farrington 

Elizabeth Kennedy, Kalaheo — Threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in a win over Farrington 

Shaydenurijah Key Bryd, Moanalua — Caught six passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns and recorded five flag pulls and three interceptions in a win over Kahuku 

Jur-Al Mahoe, Nanakuli — Caught five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown in a win over Aiea 

Arielle Olmos, Waialua — Intercepted two passes, broke up four other passes and recorded two flag pulls in a win over Dreamhouse

Kaylyn Rae Pascual, Kapolei — Caught six passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Waipahu 

Cheyenne Radona, Aiea — Caught five passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Nanakuli 

Alofa Simanu, Moanalua — Caught three touchdown passes, intercepted two passes and recorded four flag pulls in a win over Kahuku 

GIRLS WATER POLO

Jade Brown, Baldwin — Scored four goals in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and scored six goals in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Maya Buckley, Hilo — Scored six goals in a win over Keaau 

Laahia Hudgens, Kamehameha II — Scored five goals in a win over Le Jardin II 

Maile Judd, Kaiser — Scored six goals in a win over Mixed-B

Mia Lee, Lahainaluna — Scored five goals in a win over Keakaulike 

Victoria Lopez-Fando Monzon, Hawaii Prep — Scored six goals in a win over Keaau 

Mia McMichael, Kealakehe — Scored five goals in a win over Keaau 

Terangi Molena, Hilo — Scored four goals in a win over Hawaii Prep and scored four goals in a win over Kealakehe 

Puuwai Paresa, Kaiser — Scored five goals in a win over Mixed-B

Synnove Robinson, Punahou — Scored six goals in a win over Le Jardin and scored seven goals in a win over Iolani 

Eden Smith, Kahuku — Scored five goals in a win over Mililani

Isla Strickland, Kealakehe — Scored five goals in a win over Keaau 

Kanoe Wong, Roosevelt — Scored seven goals in a win over Moanalua 

SOFTBALL

Aila Anzai, Moanalua — Batted 4 for 4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in a win over Kaiser 

Shailea Brown, Baldwin — Allowed three runs on one hit with eight strikeouts and two walks in a six-inning win over Lahainaluna and batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, one walk, four RBI, one stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Maui 

Ramzy Bumagat, Moanalua — Batted 2 for 3 with five RBI in a win over Kaiser 

Loganne Cambra, Kamehameha — Batted 4 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Iolani 

Delaney Dagupion, Baldwin — Batted 4 for 4 with a double, two RBI, three stolen bases and three runs scored in a win over Lahainaluna 

Molly Davi, Maryknoll — Struck out seven batters, walked one and allowed one hit in a five-inning shutout of Punahou 

Dahlia Gangano, PAC-5 — Batted 3 for 5 with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored in a win over Punahou 

Jessie Garza, Waiakea — Batted 3 for 3 with a double, one walk, two RBI, two stolen bases and four runs scored in a win over Kealakehe 

Faith Guerreiro, Kalaheo — Batted 2 for 2 with two walks, four RBI and two runs scored in a win over Waialua 

Shyann Hadley, Lahainaluna — Batted 2 for 4 with a home run and five RBI in a win over Kamehameha-Maui 

Lexi Hiraoka, Iolani — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Quinn Linke, Pearl City — Batted 2 for 3 with a home run, double, three RBI and two runs scored in a win over Waianae 

L. Micheli-Kaimiola, Kealakehe — Batted 3 for 4 with three doubles, five RBI and a run scored in a loss to Waiakea 

Lexi Muramoto, Iolani — Batted 4 for 5 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Taryn Nakamoto, Punahou — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, three RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored in a loss to PAC-5

Maddie Pitts, Punahou — Batted 4 for 4 with a double, one RBI and three runs scored in a loss to PAC-5

Zirie Rivera, Baldwin — Batted 3 for 3 with three RBI and three runs scored in a win over Maui 

Palehua Silva, Maryknoll — Batted 2 for 3 with two home runs and six RBI in a win over Punahou 

Meghan Spencer, Waiakea — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, four RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored in a win over Kealakehe 

Kamryn Yates, Kauai — Allowed two earned runs on four hits with 13 strikeouts and three walks in a complete-game win over Waimea