Hawaiian Electric Game of the Week
Kapaa to face Saint Francis in D2 title match


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
May 5, 2018, 9:28am

 



Whatever happens Saturday night at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, one thing is certain: a new champion will be crowned in the New City Nissan Division II Boys Volleyball Championships.

Top-seeded Kapaa and No. 2 Saint Francis will duke it out for all the marbles when the two teams square off on the big stage. First serve is slated for 5:00 p.m.

With Hawaii Baptist, winners of nine of the past 10 D2 state titles, moving up to Division I this year, a golden opportunity was given to any team that wanted to take it.

"It's anybody's year at this point in time, and we knew that was going to be the situation," said Kapaa coach Kapule Kaona, whose team lost to HBA in the title match last season. "Our first goal was just be able to get here in the state championship, now that we're here seeing the competition, yes, it's anybody's year and we hope it's our year. We want to take it."

The Warriors (13-1), who won the first-ever D2 title back in 2005, were eager for redemption after flying to Oahu earlier this week, but drop their first two sets of the tournament before coming back to beat University Lab in five games in the opening round.

They looked like a much different team in the semifinals when they dismantled Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Pearl City in straight sets, 25-19, 26-24, 25-14. Kapaa, the Kauai Interscholastic Federation winner, recorded eight total blocks in the contest in the sweep.

"We got blessed with the No. 1 seed, but we came out last night not really playing that way, not having that No. 1 attitude, but tonight, I think we came in with a little more swag," said Kaona.

While Kapaa has experience in the tournament, only one player really saw playing time on last year's squad. Kaona said junior outside hitter Kiran Costa will be the one to lead the team in all areas against the Saints.

"He's our outlet man, he's our gun," Kaona said of Costa, who hit 0.464 against the Chargers and finished with 15 kills, seven digs, four blocks and two aces. "He provides a lot of leadership at least by example, as well as through vocal (communication)."

Saint Francis (15-2) also has a leader that controls the court in junior setter Jesus Garcia. The Saints' trigger man's importance could not be understated as he played through injury in the final points of an epic five-set semifinal win over Molokai.

With the score tied at 8 in the fifth set, Garcia had to come out of the game after an apparent cramp to one of his hamstrings. After having his leg stretched out while drinking some mustard, Garcia came back into the match with the Saints down 12-10.

He delivered assists on four of the Saints' next six points as Saint Francis rallied for the victory, 25-22, 15-25, 27-25, 21-25, 16-14.

"He's our main man, without him, I don't know what we would do," Saint Francis coach Dandi Holder said of Garcia, who finished with 65 assists. "We did what we tried to do, but he came back in and he took us home."


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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