Kekaulike Wins Opener in State Volleyball

By Fred Guzman

King Kekaulike celebrated its first trip to the state high school boy’s volleyball championships in victorious and dramatic fashion last night.

Jordan Botelho had 16 kills and Javon Swain added 10 as Na Alii rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Waipahu 26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 25-18, 18-16 in an opening round match o the Division-I tournament at Waiakea High.

Kekaulike appeared to have matters under control when it opened up a 10-2 in the final set, but Waipahu staged a rally of its own to get a pair of chances at match point. That’s before Na Alii bounced back again to earn a berth in tonight’s quarterfinals. Kekaulike will face second-seeded OIA champion Moanalua at 5 o’clock.

Meantime, MIL champion and fourth-seeded Baldwin opens its bid at the same time at Kea’au High against Kamehameha-Hawaii, which advanced with a with a 2 5 – 2 3 , 2 5 – 2 0 , 2 5 – 1 7 sweep of Leilehua.

In other quarterfinal matches tonight, top-seeded Punahu faces Pearl City and third-seeded Waiakea challenges Kamehameha-Kapalama.

Defending champion Seabury Hall was seeded third in the D-II tournament that opens tonight on Oahu. The Spartans will begin their bid for a repeat against Lanakila Baptist in a 6 o’clock quarterfinal match at Maryknoll.

GOLF: Iolani’s Lorens Chan took individual honors and Punahou captured the team title in the state boy’s golf championships held at Waikaloa on the Big Island. The top finished from the MIL was Seabury Hall junior Alex Chiarella, who tied for fifth place and eight strokes behind the medalist.