ILH Boys Volleyball
'Iolani rallies past Kamehameha in four sets


Wes Nakama
April 30, 2011, 3:11pm

  

Sat, Apr 30, 2011 @ Iolani [ 1:00 pm ]

Kamehameha

1

Iolani

3

 1   2   3   4   5      
KSK (21-3) 25 21 23 21 - 1
IOL (16-4) 19 25 25 25 - 3
Kill: M. Christenson (KSK) 24 kills
Blk: T. Cundiff (IOL) 6 blk


'Iolani rallied past Kamehameha yesterday, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 to keep its hopes alive for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's second and final boys volleyball state tournament berth.

The Raiders, ranked No. 22 in the nation by ESPN Rise, improved to 14-3 in the ILH and stayed in contention for the league's second and final state tournament berth. The Warriors, ranked No. 6, fell to 15-2 entering tomorrow's showdown against No. 4-ranked Punahou (17-0).

'Iolani was swept by Punahou, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23, Friday night but yesterday came through with the crucial points when it needed to.

"The difference was mental," Raiders coach Mike Among said. "It was focus-driven."

'Iolani needed all of its focus after Kamehameha took Game 1 by breaking away late. The Warriors broke an 11-11 tie with a 4-0 run, and later used a 6-2 surge to take a 21-16 lead.

All-State outside hitter Micah Christenson then put an exclamation point on the set by slamming home an errant Raiders pass that went over the net. 

Kamehameha led the second set, 17-14, but three straight errors -- one serving and two hitting -- allowed 'Iolani to tie it and another serve error later put the Raiders ahead, 22-21. 

Tyler Cundiff then sandwiched a kill and block around a Warriors hitting error to even the match at one game apiece.

In the third set, 'Iolani capitalized on six Kamehameha hitting errors to forge an 11-1 run and take a 14-5 lead, then went ahead, 19-10, on a double block by Cundiff and Colin Tseng.

But Christenson spiked two kills and Cullen Mosher served six straight points -- including three aces -- to spark a 10-2 run that closed it to 21-20.

Tseng finally broke the string with a kill off a block, and Nowack's tip shot gave the Raiders a 23-20 lead. After a kill by Christenson closed it to 24-23, Haryson Lum ended it with a solo block in the middle.

The third set started tight before 'Iolani used a 4-1 run to pull ahead 17-13, then went up, 22-16, on a kill by Gabriel Vega. Christenson then landed two kills and an 'Iolani error closed it to 22-20, but Vega answered with his 14th kill and Alden Wong's ace made it 24-20. 

After yet another kill by Christenson -- his match-high 24th -- Tseng sent a shot from the back row that ricocheted off a Warrior dig and out to end it.

"(The Raiders) made plays in a timely manner, they made some crucial digs and blocks," Kamehameha coach Kainoa Downing said. "We didn't execute on a consistent basis, we didn't pass well enough to stay in system."

Vega had three blocks to go with his 14 kills, Tseng finished with 12 kills and three blocks, Nowack had 10 kills and one block and Cundiff added six kills and five blocks. 

Christenson, a 6-foot-5 senior who will play for Southern California next season, had three blocks and two aces to go with his 24 kills and Daylan Chock added nine kills and three blocks.



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