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Kahale Clini

Punahou volleyball  •   #15  OH/OPP  Junior

It took a while for the Punahou boys volleyball to put the pieces together this spring, but when it did the end result was a familiar one. 

The Buffanblu overcame a multitude of adversity over the course of the recently-completed season, which culminated with their 10th consecutive Division I state championship and 39th overall crown. 

One of the many pieces to the puzzle that helped Punahou prevail was the play of junior Kahale Clini. The 6-foot-4 junior outside hitter/opposite was a key component to the team's success, both throughout the Interscholastic League of Honolulu schedule and at last week's New City Nissan/HHSAA State Championships. 

Clini finished as the Buffanblu's leader in both kills and aces and finished with a hitting percentage of .236 on the year, according to coach Rick Tune. 

"Kahale is super important to what we do, but I think the cool thing about our team is everyone has a role and the role that a guy like Evan Porter played allowed us to play Kahale and have him have a larger margin of error because Kahale can be a bit streaky at times," Tune said. "Even though he has a huge upside and tremendous power, it can be hard if you have two guys streaky like that on the court."

Clini, a six-rotation player and team captain has three years of varsity experience under his belt. He's also spent time training with the U19 National Team — which forced him to miss part of the early ILH slate this season — despite being a first-year varsity for the Buffanblu. 

"I would describe Kahale as smooth power. He's smooth as an athlete, he does things that look pretty effortless on the court and he's got just a ton of raw power that goes into what he does," Tune said. 

Tune likened Clini's skillset to that of a five-tool baseball player. 

"His role on our team is to be a six-rotation player and I think it's kind of equivalent to that where we need him to do everything and it was a big role for him to be thrust into — both of our pin hitters, Evan and Kahale," Tune said. 

In addition to Clini's production, Tune was sure to credit Porter for his steadiness throughout the year. 

"He was our most consistent serve at nearly 88 percent, so 88 percent of the time his jump serve would be in," Tune said. "Evan, Kahale, Matthew Chun, Brody Badham — they're kind of this core group of guys that kind of grew up playing together and they have a lot of love and passion for the game and a deep desire for the game and to be good. These guys are always together and playing volleyball kind of nerd-ing out for volleyball."

Clini is arguably the most determined of the bunch. In the aftermath of Saturday's state final against Kamehameha, Clini was reflective of the arduous path he and his teammates traveled this season and the many doubters they faced along the way. 

"Never a doubt the whole season," Clini stated. "People kept on asking me from the loss to HBA — the very first game — everyone's like, ‘Well, looks like you guys are gonna lose this year, you know, you lost against HBA.' Everyone kept on doubting us, day in and day out (but) we kept on fighting. People were like, ‘What are you gonna do when you guys lose?' I guess we'll never know."

Clini put down a team-high 23 kills against the Warriors Saturday. He also came up with seven digs, three aces and six block assists. That was a night after Clini recorded 20 kills, eight digs, three block assists, two set assists and a pair of aces in a five-set semifinal victory over previously-unbeaten Moanalua. 

"I thought Kahale played great," Tune said after the Moanalua match. "He played great. He was everything that we needed him to be and let's give some credit to Moanalua, that's not an easy matchup. I think sometimes the expectations and pressures that we put on kids may be a little too high, right — he's on the U19 developmental and training teams, (but) that doesn't mean he's should kill the ball every time, that doesn't mean he should pass nails every time — he has the right to make mistakes just like everybody else."

Clini also notched 13 kills, two digs, one ace and a set assist in Thursday's quarterfinal sweep of Kamehameha-Maui. He tallied a half-dozen kills along with five digs and two block assists in Monday's sweep of Leilehua in the opening round of the tournament. 

"Kahale just has a real strong desire to be as good as he can be. Sometimes, I think what he's had to learn this year is when that is helpful and when that is hurtful and being able to channel that in the right ways at the right time with the right perspective. The last few weeks of the season, he upped his game primarily because he was able to figure that out a little bit," Tune explained. 

Clini and the rest of the Buffanblu were able to overcome the loss of projected starting setter Aidan Rigg to a season-ending injury in the preseason. The 6-foot-7 Rigg is signed with UC Irvine. 

"I told the guys that every team goes through their own journey every year and that gives you opportunities to learn the lessons you need to learn to be successful until you learn ‘em," Tune said. "I got two guys setting that are brand new to the varsity so it took us a while to get them online; every single starter out there did not play a minute last year. This team has had to learn and grow and they got a heart of a champion; They just believe."

At every opportunity he had, Tune reminded his players that this season had nothing to do with the past. There was no question for title No. 10. Rather, it was about blazing their own path. 

"I can truly say that this team has grown the most out of every team I've ever had it's rooted in their love for each other," Tune said. "Every team is a different challenge. Everybody might think that it's easy some years and it's never easy. There's always a Rubik's cube that you have to solve in order to figure out what the next step is and how to get there every year."

Clini, who has verbally committed to UCLA, was one of three Punahou players selected to the all-tournament team at states last week. Joining him were senior opposite/middle blocker Ian Kinney and junior setter Elijah Smith. 

"I thought our pieces complemented each other really well and that was key to our success this year. All these guys that do their job at a high level and it all blends together," Tune said. 

It was the 12th state title for the Buffanblu under Tune. 

BOYS VOLLEYBALL 

Jericho Adolpho, Molokai — Had 16 kills, four digs and four total blocks in a four-set loss to Aiea 

Makena Aiona-Agra, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 15 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Mililani and had 14 digs in a two-set loss to Moanalua 

Haweo Akeo, Waimea — Had 14 kills, eight digs and two block assists in a five-set win over Radford, had 11 kills and four digs in a three-set loss to University  and had 12 digs, nine digs and one block assist in a two-set win over Aiea 

Trey Ambrozich, University Lab — Had 13 kills, 10 digs, two total blocks, one ace and a set assist in a three-set win over Pahoa 

Matthew Chun, Punahou — Had 16 digs and four set assists in a five-set win over Moanalua and had 24 digs and three set assists in a five-set win over Kamehameha 

Manase Fetulimoeata, Mililani — Had 10 kills, seven digs and four total blocks in a three-set loss to Hilo 

Kaumualii Harman, Hilo — Had 18 digs, two aces and one set assist in a four-set win over Kaiser and had 17 digs, one kill and a set assist in a three-set win over Mililani 

Kawehi Kaneakua, University Lab — Had 37 set assists and nine digs in a three-set win over Pahoa, had 30 set assists, six digs, one solo block and an ace in a three-set win over Waimea and had 37 set assists, 11 digs and one kill in a four-set loss to Saint Louis 

Kapena Kanuch, Mililani — Had 12 kills and one dig in a three-set win over Kahuku 

Ian Kinney, Punahou — Had 14 kills and four block assists in a five-set win over Moanalua and had 13 kills, four block assists and three digs in a five-set win over Kamehameha 

Koa Laboy, University Lab — Had 15 kills, five digs, one block assist and an ace in a three-set win over Pahoa, had 17 kills, six digs, one solo block and an ace in a three-set win over Waimea and had 20 kills, seven digs and two aces in a four-set loss to Saint Louis 

Carson Lee, Saint Louis — Had 12 kills and 15 digs in a four-set win over University Lab 

Danny Lieu, Roosevelt — Had 35 set assists, eight digs, five kills and two block assists in a four-set win over Lahainaluna 

Ford Lyons, Roosevelt — Had 14 kills, three digs, three total blocks, two aces and one set assist in a four-set win over Lahainaluna 

Micah Mahuna, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 48 assists, eight digs and one ace in a four-set win over Mililani 

Matteo Medina, Waimea — Had 16 digs in a three-set loss to University 

Micah Nakasato, University Lab — Had 14 kills, 10 digs, four set assists and one ace in a four-set loss to Saint Louis 

Wendell Namohala, Saint Louis — Had 16 kills, three digs and three solo blocks in a four-set win over Aiea 

Rex Paguirigan, Saint Louis — Had 57 set assists, five digs and one ace in a four-set win over Aiea and had 50 assists, four digs, two kills and one ace in a four-set win over University Lab 

Kanoa Pana, Hilo — Had 36 set assists, nine digs, four aces, three kills and three block assists in a four-set win over Kaiser and had 30 set assists, nine digs, two total blocks and one kill in a three-set win over Mililani 

Evan Porter, Punahou — Had 14 kills, six digs, two block assists and one ace in a five-set win over Moanalua and had 11 kills, 16 digs and one ace in a five-set win over Kamehameha 

Kenna Quitan, University Lab — Had 15 digs and one set assist in a three-set win over Waimea and had 16 digs and three set assists in a four-set loss to Saint Louis 

Kai Rodriguez, Moanalua — Had 20 kills, five digs, four block assists, one ace and a set assist in a five-set loss to Punahou 

Kaden Sato, Moanalua — Had 12 digs and three set assists in a five-set loss to Punahou 

Pupualii Sepulona, Saint Louis — Had 18 kills, four digs, two aces and one solo block in a four-set win over Aiea and had 15 kills, nine digs, five total blocks and one set assist in a four-set win over University Lab

TJ Setik, Saint Louis — Had 10 kills, 12 digs, one solo block, an ace and a set assist in a three-set win over Konawaena, had 15 kills, two solo blocks, two digs and one ace in a four-set win over Aiea and had 15 kills, 10 digs, one block assist, one set assist and an ace in a four-set win over University Lab 

Kainalu Shiraishi, Radford — Had 12 kills, 10 digs, one block assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Waimea 

Elijah Smith, Punahou — Had 31 set assists, 11 digs and one ace in a five-set win over Moanalua 

Harryzen Soares, Kamehameha — Had 21 digs, six set assists and one ace in a five-set loss to Punahou 

Julian Quartero-Echalas, Aiea — Had 14 digs, two aces and one set assist in a two-set loss to Waimea 

Maluhia Tandal, Hilo — Had 14 kills, five digs and five set assists in a four-set win over Kaiser and had 12 kills, seven digs and two set assists in a three-set win over Mililani 

Justin Todd, Moanalua — Had 11 kills, four digs, two total blocks and an ace in a three-set win over Hilo, had 22 kills, 11 digs, one ace and a set assist in a five-set loss to Punahou 

David Tsuchiya, Waimea — Had 18 set assists, 10 digs and six kills in a three-set loss to University Lab 

Brayden Van Karen, Kamehameha — Had 40 set assists, three digs, two block assists and one kill in a five-set loss to Punahou 

Kainoa Wade, Kamehameha — Had 14 kills, nine digs, three aces, three set assists and one solo block in a three-set win over Roosevelt, had 17 kills, five block assists, two aces and one dig in a three-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii and had 30 kills, 10 digs, 10 total blocks and three aces in a five-set loss to Punahou 

Micah Wana, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 26 kills, nine digs, two solo blocks, one ace and a set assist in a four-set win over Mililani and had 10 kills and four digs in a two-set loss to Moanalua 

Reace Watkins, Aiea — Had 19 kills, 16 digs, three total blocks and an ace in a four-set win over Molokai 

GIRLS WATER POLO

Wells Anderson, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over Mililani and scored six goals in a win over Kaiser 

Emi Chrash, Kaiser — Scored four goals in a loss to Kahuku

Zhi Clark, Lahainaluna — Scored four goals in a loss to Mililani 

Tuua Cravens, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over Kaiser 

Mikela DeAguiar, Baldwin — Scored three goals in a loss to Hawaii Prep 

Jaime Farah, Kaiser — Scored six goals in a win over Baldwin 

Kimie Ginoza, Kaiser — Scored eight goals in a win over Waiakea 

Ava Gurney, Kamehameha — Scored four goals in a win over Kaiser 

Maile Imonen, Hawaii Prep — Scored six goals in a win over Baldwin and scored three goals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Allison Kauahi, Punahou — Scored three goals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii and scored five goals in a win over Kahuku 

Leila Maynard, Mililani — Scored eight goals in a win over Lahainaluna and scored four goals in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Synnove Robinson, Punahou — Scored three goals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Ali Wawner, Hawaii Prep — Scored four goals in a win over Roosevelt and scored seven goals in a win over Baldwin 

Oliliu Wise, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored four goals in a win over Mililani