King Kekaulike outlasts Waipahu in five


Jordan Botelho had a match-high 16 kills and added seven digs yesterday as King Kekaulike outlasted Waipahu, 26-24, 21-25, 21-25, 25-18, 18-16 in first-round action at the 43rd Annual New City Nissan/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Boys Volleyball Division I State Championships in Hilo.

The Maui Interscholastic League runner-up Na Ali'i improved to 13-2 in the regular and postseason and will face No. 2 seed and O'ahu interscholastic Association champ Moanalua (16-0) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal at Waiakea.

Duketoa Tili led the Marauders (10-7) with 15 kills and seven digs and Tatupu Tatupu added 14 kills, six blocks, six digs and four aces. Javon Swain added 10 kills and four digs for King Kekaulike.

In other first-round action at Waiakaea, Micah Christenson posted with 13 kills, four blocks and seven digs as Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Kamehameha (17-3) swept OIA fourth-place finisher Mililani, 25-11, 25-22, 25-9.

The Warriors, ranked No. 9 in the nation by ESPN Rise, will face No. 3 seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiakea (16-0) at 7 tonight. �

At Kea'au High School, Joseph Hammond notched a match-high 15 kills and added three blocks as Pearl City (9-9) edged OIA rival Wai'anae, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10. The Chargers also got 13 kills and five digs from Jerry Gallardo, 11 kills, two blocks and four digs from Josiah DeMello and 11 kills, nine digs and three aces from Sean Chang.

Werner Nansen led the Seariders (9-9) with 14 kills and two blocks and James Sosa added 10 kills, four blocks and six digs.�

Pearl City advances to today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal against No. 1 seed and ILH champ Punahou (19-0). The Buffanblu are ranked No. 4 by ESPN Rise and are the defending mythical national champion.

In the other first-round match at Kea'au, Kaehu Ka'a'a had 14 kills and 12 digs as BIIF runner-up Kamehameha-Hawai'i swept OIA runner-up Leilehua, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17.�

Brock Paikai led the Mules (15-4) with 10 kills and seven blocks.�

The Warriors (13-4) will face MIL champ Baldwin (13-2) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal.