FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARADVERTISER.COM
Moanalua’s Richard Harpole blocked a spike attempt by Kaimuki’s Wiseman Demei in last night’s match.
StarAdvertiser
By Paul Honda
After two years in Division II, the time has come for Moanalua’s boys volleyball team to shine.
Richard Harpole is making sure of it. The 6-foot-2 senior slammed nine kills and led a tenacious wall up front as Moanalua swept Kalaheo 25-16, 25-11 last night at Na Menehune’s gym.
Coupled with an earlier 25-9, 25-12 win over Kaimuki, Moanalua improved to 6-0 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East play.
“Division II was very slow,” said Harpole, who remembered last year’s OIA D-II title — and state semifinal loss. “We got beat on speed against Seabury Hall.”
Harpole said Moanalua’s run in D-I of the OIA this year is a credit to the coaching staff, including former Rainbow Wahine player Chastity Nobriga.
“She’s helped us with everything. Coach Chas is amazing,” Harpole said.
In another match at Moanalua, Kalaheo swept Kaimuki 25-19, 25-20.
“Moanalua is well-balanced,” Kalaheo coach Ed Chun said. “It’s good that we saw this level of play early in the year.”
Brandon Guerrero (eight assists) and Zarin Augustiro (six assists) shared distribution duties for Moanalua. Tahi Caldwell added five kills (.556) and Carl Ko had a match-high three blocks.
Moanalua’s precision was a big advantage. Na Menehune hit .463, committing only three hitting errors.
“They’ve beaten up on us many years,” said assistant coach Scott Acma, who filled in for head coach Doug Hee (business trip).
Kalaheo, possibly the tallest team in the OIA, showed glimpses of outstanding play. However, inexperience played a factor as the Mustangs fell to 1-3. Three starters — Reeve Troberg, Silila Tucker and Sheldon Dolan — are sophomores.
“They know what their expectations are,” Chun said. “Those are young mistakes. We’ll focus on the good things we did and try to capitalize at practice on our unforced errors.”
Kalaheo hit .133, including six hitting errors. Kai Singlehurst led Kalaheo with four kills, all in the first set.
The Mustangs showed promise in the opening set, using a right-side **** and a block by Singlehurst to take an 8-6 lead. With five kills in his first six attempts, Harpole helped Moanalua regain the lead.
Up 18-16, Ko roofed Singlehurst, Landenn Tagalicod-Molina spiked a **** from the right side and a setting error by Kalaheo gave Moanalua a five-point lead.
The momentum stayed with Moanalua in the second set. Setter-turned-libero Kolby Kanetake delivered two aces to help Moanalua take a 9-3 lead. Kalaheo was within five before Na Menehune went on an 8-0 run for a commanding 19-6 lead.
Unlike Kalaheo, which has only one club player (freshman Luke Owens), Moanalua is loaded with year-round slammers from clubs such as Kui Kahi and Kaulukoa.
How good can Moanalua be?
“We got one set against Maryknoll and we kept up with ‘Iolani,” said Harpole, who plays for Kui Kahi in the offseason. “We managed to hold our own. We’ve got good setters and two good new players in Tahi (Caldwell) and Drake (Fukushima). It’s going to be a helluva ride.”
Processing your request, Please wait....
