Felten

WAILUKU — The Kamehameha Schools Maui girls volleyball team has been to every state tournament since its varsity program started in 2003.

The Warriors were aware of that fact as they played for their 20th straight state berth on Tuesday; there was no state tournament in 2020 due to COVID.

They took care of business in a 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20 win over Maui High in the Central Pacific Bank Maui Interscholastic League Division I tournament semifinals at the Jon Garcia Gym.

“Really big for us, recently we’ve been a little shaky, but tonight just proved that we wanted it and that we’re coming back,” senior libero Emmi-Lin Felten said after collecting a team-high 15 digs.

Zsyla Honda had seven kills and 12 digs for the Warriors (10-3), who play regular-season champ Baldwin in the tournament final tonight. Haylee Pruse had two kills, 13 digs and 41 assists, Haven De Silva smacked 10 kills and had two digs, and Archer Fabrao added 13 kills and six digs.

“For me, I’ve been working on keeping my attitude and pushing through when it’s close balls like that and getting ahead,” said Felten, who has been talking to Oregon State and Western Oregon for her possible college destination to continue the sport. “And I think my team has worked really hard on that, too, and it shows on the court.”

Felten said her team was aware of the remarkable streak of state tournaments for their school.

“Yeah we did,” Felten said. “It’s good, we want to finish it. There was a little pressure on us.”

The Sabers (6-7) led 12-5 and 15-8 in the first set before the Warriors went on a 5-0 run to climb within 15-13 and force a timeout from Maui High coach Kenny Houpo.

Kamehameha Maui tied the set 15-15 on a hitting error before a dink by Shyla Pulu-Valdez gave the Sabers a 16-15 lead and started a 3-0 run.

A kill by Kiera Sam Fong pushed the lead to 19-17, but the Warriors rallied to take a 20-19 lead on a Sabers hitting error.

A kill by De Silva made it 21-19 Warriors, and a solo block out of a timeout by Fabrao made it 22-19. A kill from the middle by De Silva and a second-hit kill by Pruse pushed the lead to 24-22, and a kill by De Silva finished the opening set.

The Sabers bounced out to a 9-2 lead in the second set. The lead grew 19-8 on a kill by Pulu-Valdez and the Warriors got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Kamehameha Maui rolled to a 7-1 lead in the third set. A kill by De Silva gave the Warriors a 21-13 lead and the Sabers got no closer in the frame.

A Sam Fong ace gave the Sabers an 8-7 lead in the fourth set, and a kill by Naiara Bal made it 15-12 Maui High and prompted a timeout from Kamehameha Maui coach Sienna Davis.

A block by Pulu-Valdez gave the Sabers a 17-15 lead, but a resounding kill by Fabrao moments later tied it 18-18.

A hitting error gave the Warriors a 19-18 lead and an ace by Felten made it 20-18. Another ace by Felten pushed the lead to 22-18 and forced Houpo’s last timeout of the night.

A kill by Fabrao and a kill by Taylnn Abreu made it 24-18, and moments later Fabrao won a joust at the net to end the match.

Davis said her team will be ready for the formidable challenge tonight.

“Kudos to both teams,” Davis said. “I think they fought and both wanted it on both sides and both teams fought to the end.”

Added Davis: “We’ve been focusing a lot on mindset and believing in themselves and changing their mindset, whether they’re at the service line, whether they are digging the ball or hitting the ball, and they’ve learned that it does, for example in that fourth set, it does do a lot.”

Davis smiled when asked about the streak — she played four seasons for the school as well.

“It’s pretty special for sure, so excited to keep it going,” Davis said.

Maui High did not keep stats, but Houpo is excited for the future — he says goodbye to just two seniors, Angilina Shaw-Burrows Agapay and Candence Guimanas.

“I’m proud of the girls,:” Houpo said. “You know, we worked hard for it and just ended up on the short side. … This team’s pretty good for the next couple of years.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.