The Punahou boys volleyball team holds up the Koa Head trophy. Steve Erler | SL

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The Buffanblu add another koa trophy to its prestigious collection.

Punahou (17-0) captured its sixth-straight title with a 25-18, 19-25, 25-20, 25-17 victory over Kamehameha-Hawaii in the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships at the Neal Blaisdell Center on Saturday.

"It feels awesome. Although we got six in a row, each one feels good. Each one feels better than the last and we want to keep it going and it's a great feeling," said outside hitter Ryan Wilcox, who was the tournament's most outstanding player.

The championship is Rick Tune's sixth straight title and eighth overall as the Buffanblu win their 35th overall volleyball championship. Aside from Ryan Wilcox being the only returning starter, Punahou had to break in nine new faces.

"Our team is a different team than last year. We have to gel and figure it out in rough patches and do the best we do with whatever lineup is put out there," said Wilcox.

"This group has risen to every challenge placed in front of them. It started (with) the Best of the West Tournament, they ran the table in the ILH and was consistent and steady in every performance. It's hard to be that consistent for three months. It's a testament to these boys," said Punahou coach Rick Tune.

Ryan Wilcox led all players with 20 kills, Ethan Siegfried added 14 kills (.433) and Kanai Akana had 13. Buddy Scott dished out 22 assists and Jameson McKibbin came off the bench to distribute 24 more. Shea Suzumoto had a game-high 21 digs.

"I was most proud of Ryan tonight. When guys go into a funk and got out of sync, he got right back in it. That's not easy to do and gear it up again. I was proud of how he responded tonight," said Tune, on Wilcox.

KS-Hawaii, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions, got contributions from Avery Enriques with 16 kills. Three players recorded 13 digs each and the Jai Makuakane and Kameron Moses tandem combined for 32 assists.

"I'm proud of these boys, they didn't play as well as they could've but credit Punahou, they didn't give us a chance to get into rhythm," said KS-Hawaii coach Guy Enriques.

Punahou led 8-4 early on and forced coach Enriques to call a quick timeout. The Buffanblu held a six point margin, but the Warriors cut it down to four, 19-15 after an attack went too long and Punahou called a timeout. KS-Hawaii got within three, but could get no closer as the Buffanblu clinched the the first set on Wilcox's five kills.

The Warriors came out swinging in the second set and maintained a four and five point lead over the Buffanblu throughout the second set. Punahou battled back and brought the score within two, 19-17, but KS-Hawaii extended the lead back up to five as the Buffanblu called timeout. KS-Hawaii capitalized on Punahou's mistakes to take set two.

"We were in rhythm. When we're in control, we're a very good team. To beat a team like that, you have to play a perfect five sets and that's hard for any team to do," said Guy Enriques. "We were right on for one set."

"That was a great learning experience and good reminder. Kudos to the guys for coming back," said Tune.

The last time the Buffanblu dropped the second set was back on April 18 to Iolani. This was the wake up call Punahou needed.

"We had to get out of a funk. We pressed the reset button and came out firing," said Wilcox.

And Buffanblu did that.

To start the third set, Punahou inserted Jameson McKibbin at setter and he contributed immediately to finish with 24 assists as he found Siegfried for four kills to take a 7-2 lead to force a KS-Hawaii timeout.

"Buddy did a great job the first two sets. KS-Hawaii was getting ahold of the flow of the setter and getting on what Buddy wanted to do. That's what it was looking like and the offense was stalling and stagnating. I thought he did a wonderful job, Jameson gave us a different look and he's a different setter," said Tune.

Siegfried and Ryan Hong landed kills from McKibbin's passes and Race Agcaoili's ace gave the Buffanblu a commanding 10-point lead. KS-Hawaii whittled that deficit all the way down to four, but Punahou powered through to to win set three, 25-20.

"We're fortunate to have a great bench and I would feel comfortable with anyone coming off the bench coming in and executing," said Wilcox.

"We were down 10 and closed the gap, but you can't be down that much and expect to win," said Guy Enriques.

Punahou was in their zone and couldn't be stopped as they created breathing room with a 13-8 lead following Kanai Akana's kill. The Warriors couldn't get any closer than six and the Buffanblu pushed it to 10, 23-13. The Warriors wouldn't back down and trailed, 24-17 after attack errors on Punahou. However, it was fitting that Wilcox ended the game to clinch the title with his 20th kill of the night.

New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships
All-Tournament Team (as selected by the media and HHSAA)
 
DIVISION I

Ethan Siegfried, Punahou
Avery Enriques, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Nalu Kahapea, Kamehameha-Hawaii
Kanai Akana, Punahou
Jameson McKibbin, Punahou
Shea Suzumoto, Punahou
 
Most Outstanding Player: Ryan Wilcox, Punahou