Oahu teams surge into HHSAA Division I boys volleyball semifinals

The best of the Oahu Interscholastic Association and Interscholastic League of Honolulu blitzed their way into the semifinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I boys volleyball championships on Thursday.

Ten-time defending state champion Punahou takes on OIA runner-up Mililani on the Buffanblu’s floor in Hemmeter Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. Friday. Preceding it at 5 p.m., OIA champion Moanlaua faces ILH runner-up Kamehameha.

Playing in the home comforts of Hemmeter, well-balanced Punahou (14-0) dispatched Kamehameha-Hawaii, 25-12, 25-16, 25-18 with a .439 hitting outing that did not require a single player to register double-digit kills. Brody Badham put down nine kills and Evan Porter eight.

Mililani (14-1) turned to Aris Mateo and Tyler Duranceau, who combined for 37 kills in a 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19 victory over Kamehameha-Maui.

In an all-OIA East state quarterfinal at Kamehameha’s Kekuhaupio Gym, Moanalua (15-0) knocked out Roosevelt, 25-16, 25-16, 25-14 in holding the Rough Riders to .000 hitting.

And Kamehameha (12-5) rode the arm of star Kainoa Wade, who put down 20 kills with just one error on 37 swings in a 25-10, 25-12, 25-18 win against Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Hilo.

It was the third time in the last four editions of the tournament that only Oahu teams reached the semifinals.

In Division II, there is guaranteed to be a first-time state champion. In Friday’s semifinals, Konawaena takes on Le Jardin at 5 p.m. and University Lab faces Molokai at 7, both at Kalani High.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.