The Sabers' boys volleyball team celebrates after defeating Pearl City in three sets Tuesday night in their season opener. CJ Caraang | SL

×

_17030858_BVB_PC-CAMP_CJCARAANG-0414.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

EWA BEACH - After failing to make set point on three occasions in the first set, Campbell rallied to beat visiting Pearl City, 26-27, 25-11, 15-8, Tuesday night in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division boys' volleyball season opener.

"I think the best part is they controlled their emotions," Campbell coach Tracie Huddy said. "That's one thing I noticed about guys as long as I've been coaching them they get really frustrated because their competitive. But that's one thing I try to teach them. If you can control your emotions out there your mind will stay focused and I think that gave them faith. And their chemistry is good. Nobody gets down on each other, their encouragement is good. I think that team chemistry will allow them to execute ane perform."

Zane Arata led the Sabers with seven kills and a block assist, while Anthony Mageo followed with five kills, two block assists, two digs and an ace.

"Feels really great to set the tone," Mageo said of winning the season opener.

Zion Tupuola-Fetui led the Chargers with six kills, a block, block assist and an ace. Jonathan Gaopoa-Bell had three solo blocks.

"Our communication broke down, our passing broke down," Pearl City coach Sean Chang said. "We just couldn't recover and come back from it."

Leads changed seven times in an exciting and tight first set that saw the Chargers storm out to a 6-1 lead before the Sabers scrambled back. It served with a 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25 leads, but a service error by Sarasopa Lafitaga tied the match at 26 and a kill by Tupuola-Fetui won the set for the Chargers.

"I guess the hype got to us and we let that take over," Mageo said. "Like, we started slacking off after that. We humbled ourselves after, settled down and started to play good."

The Sabers did.

They dominated the second set, storming out to 11-3, scoring six unanswered points following the sideout with Arata serving. After taking a 15-5 lead, the Chargers never came within single digits to rest of the match.

Pearl City held leads of 4-3 and 6-5 and tied the match at 7. But the Sabers ended the match with an 8-1 run.

"As a team, I think our confidence level and our skills aren't that high yet," Chang said. "As a team, once we start building our confidence, we'll get better at it. Right now, we don't have that confidence yet."