Local teams lead after first day of Iolani tournament

Moanalua's Kamalu Kaaa puts a kill attempt past the La Jolla double block. Na Menehune won in three sets. Peter Caldwell | SL

Sixteen teams began pool play in the 8th annual Iolani Boys Volleyball Tournament with games being held at Iolani's upper and lower gyms. The field included 10 teams from Oahu, three teams from the neighbor islands and three teams from California. Taking time out from early league play, the tourney provides a good test and gives local teams an idea of where they stand with the competition.

At the end of the dayʻs contests, pool leaders included Moanalua, Kamehameha-Kapalama, Punahou and Kamehameha-Hawaii.

One of the matches featured Moanalua and La Jolla (San Diego). Na Menehune swept the Vikings in straight sets, 25-18, 31-29.

La Jolla came into the tourney with a 5-2 record and faced off against a Moanalua team that had rolled through six early season matches without a set loss. Led by outside hitter Austin Matautia (16 kills) and middle Karson Cruz, Na Menehune took the first set without much challenge.

Set two was a different story as Moanalua fell behind 19-16. The Vikings' trio of outside hitter Dane Pieper, middle Joe Palatella and setter Gavin Heap began digging balls, crushing some kills and capitalizing on Moanalua's mistakes. Na Menehune fought back and were serving on match point but couldnʻt close out the visitors, and the teams battled back and forth with La Jolla having one set point. Finally, Moanalua got their elusive last point on a mishandled serve to earn a hard won last set victory.

"I was glad for this type of match," said Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting. "Our setters are young and know what they have to do. Overall weʻre on the right track and it was a good start."

Na Menehune swept University High, 25-14, 25-14 in their second game of the day.

Kamehameha-Kapalama started off its day with a 25-13, 25-23 match victory over Kealakehe. The Warriors swept league opponent Maryknoll in their second game, 25-14, 25-19.

Punahou, the defending Division I state champion, saw its first game of pool play come against Hawaii Baptist, the reigning Division II state champion. The Buffanblu swept the Eagles, 25-20, 25-15. Punahou later defeated the Westview Wolverines (San Diego) in straight sets, 25-7, 25-19 to finish the day without a blemish.

Kamehameha-Hawaii faced the tough task of playing two pool opponents in back-to-back matches. The Warriors handled Seabury Hall decisively, 25-7, 25-9, in a 3 p.m. contest. Kamehameha-Hawaii's next match was against host Iolani at 4 p.m. The Raiders nearly won the first set, but ultimately got swept by the Warriors, 25-23, 25-15.

Pool play will be completed Friday, before transitioning to bracket play for Saturday's championship matches.