Boys volleyball

Thirty-eight, 11 and nine. That is 38 boys volleyball state championships for Punahou. Eleven under coach Rick Tune, including nine in a row after a Buffanblu sweep of Moanalua on Saturday night at Blaisdell. The seniors, including setter Keegan Au Yuen, Keau Thompson, Riley Haine and Aidan Tune, clutched the koa championship trophy. Three years since the previous state tournament. It was quite the wait. “It’s our senior year so it’s a real special moment to share with all these […]

After 37 state championships in boys volleyball, there still is no compromise for Punahou. A 25-17, 25-15, 25-17 sweep over OIA runner-up Mililani was convincing enough. Can anyone stop the top-seeded Buffanblu? Mililani’s serve was tough on the ILH champions, enough for a string of three aces early in the match and some occasional success against a normally teflon-tough Punahou serve-receive crew. Punahou coach Rick Tune was seated for nearly the entire match, gauging the waters. His grade of the […]

A 36-inch vertical and precise accuracy don’t always go together for outside hitters. Keanu Kaawa is that rare one. The 6-foot-4 senior had 22 kills and four aces as unbeaten Moanalua roared past OIA West powerhouse Mililani 25-17, 25-13, 25-22 for the Division I boys volleyball league crown on Wednesday night. It is the eighth OIA crown under coach Alan Cabanting. Kaawa’s explosive vertical and elite body control, plus an ability to deceive defenders, was on full display at Radford’s […]

Four Hawaii athletes contributed heavily to their team’s ascent to the NCAA Championships. The four are: • Maryknoll’s Jhenna Gabriel, who was the starting setter for a Texas team that advance to the NCAA women’s volleyball final; • King Kekaulike’s Colton Cowell, who helped Hawaii volleyball beat BYU and make school history by becoming the first UH men’s team to win an undisputed NCAA title. • Kaiser’s Kaile Halvorsen, who played big minutes in helping Santa Clara beat Florida State […]

Mother’s Day was a bit more fun for Dandi Holder. Just hours earlier, her Damien Monarchs stunned Saint Louis at Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium to capture the ILH Division II boys volleyball championship. Led by their 6-foot-5 senior, TIno Atonio, Damien outlasted Saint Louis 25-16, 22-25, 25-15 on Saturday night for the crown. “This is the first title in Damien history for boys volleyball, the first time since the 1980s that they made a title (game) appearance,” Holder said. “So […]