---

It was 'Spike Night' and Michael Fisher certainly delivered the goods.

The 6-foot-6 junior outside hitter put down a match-high 20 kills to help lead Hawaii Baptist to a 26-24, 20-25, 25-19 victory over Kamehameha on Hawaii Baptist's Spike Night.

The clash between defending HHSAA Division I champ Kamehameha and HHSAA Division II title-holder Hawaii Baptist may have been an exhibition contest whose result would not be reflected in the ILH regular season tally, but it had all the feel of a match that had much more on the line.

"It was great opportunity for us to play a high-level team, with great players, great coaching staff, and just an opportunity for us to have to play each play and just to kind of stay in it mentally and work on our execution." said Hawaii Baptist head coach Teoni Obrey.

Kamehameha opened up with a lead early in set number one, scoring the first 3 points and extending to an 17-10 advantage just about midway through on back-to-back kills by Savili Bartley.

The Eagles would answer back in a big way with a 7-1 scoring advantage, highlighted by five kills by Fisher and a emphatic block by middle John Hirokawa, and would eventually take the lead for the first time in the set at 23-22.

"(We were just trying to) get a sideout and then separate on it and then try to win some points. Instead of playing to score, just play the point and try to execute our gameplan." said Fisher of the Eagles' game one comeback.

After Kamehameha pulled even at 24-all, consecutive kills by Chad Barretta and Fisher would give HBA the first set, 26-24, to a crowd of about 600 that looked both excited and maybe a bit surprised.

"He (Fisher) picked up the load and helped (us) stay confident." said Obrey of his junior outside hitter's performance.

In set number two, the Warriors would again take control early, this time building up a 6-1 margin early and as large as 20-9 late in the set. Kamu Grugier-Hill would lead the way with six kills in the set, but it was the serve of Kaehu Kaaa, who had three aces in game two, that would give the Eagles a world of trouble.

"We were just hoping (to get out of that rotation), we were on rocky ground there... fortunately, we were able to get out of the rotation and catch up." remarked Obrey.

And Fisher would again lead a Hawaii Baptist rally, spiking home seven in the set, but the Eagles would get no closer than 24-20, and a Grugier-Hill kill would give the Warriors' the second game, 25-20.

In the decisive third set, it would be Hawaii Baptist opening up an early advantage, taking a 4-1 lead on a Hirokawa block. The Warriors would take a 15-14 lead midway through, but a Fisher spike on an overpass tied the game on the next point, and the Warriors would not get any closer down the stretch.

And as the Eagles pulled ahead to a 21-17 advantage on back-to-back kills by senior Chad Barretta and Fisher, you could feel the anticipation of the HBA fans in attendance.

Then, following a Cullen Mosher block to make the score 24-19, Kamehameha would serve at match point, Kalei Hosaka would make a good pass to setter Mason Ohta, and Kaimana Triska would slam home the winner into the back left corner to end it.

Barretta finished with 7 kills and a block and Triska added 6 kills and 2 blocks.

Kamehameha would get eight kills each from Grugier-Hill, Mosher and Bartley in the loss.

Obrey added, "We had to kind of scheme certain things, certain blocking schemes, hopefully they weren't going to have a great day."

Hawaii Baptist opens regular season play on March 13 at home against Lanakila Baptist.