Top-Seeded Na Menehune Dispatch Hilo Vikings in Straight Sets, Advance to Friday’s State Semifinals 

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAY 11, 2023

MOANALUA — The Moanalua Na Menehune (15-0) snagged a spot in Friday night’s HHSAA boys volleyball state semifinals, taking down the Hilo Vikings (4-5) in straight sets in the quarterfinals Thursday. 
The Vikings traded points with the tournament’s top seed early in the opening set, trailing 3-2 just five points in. Moanalua looked to their size and athleticism to gain some breathing room, streaking ahead of the visitors from the Big Island, 13-8.

Moanalua continued their opening set dominance, taking a double-digit lead multiple times in set one of the quarterfinal. Na Menehune’s lead reached as many as 14, which ended as the final margin of the first set with Moanalua taking it, 25-11.

Na Menehune kept the momentum rolling to the second set, scoring the first three points of the frame before the Vikings found their way on the board with two straight points. UH commit JT Todd got the top-seed back on track with a vicious kill before leading a 3-0 run at the service line to take 7-2 lead.

Hilo would start to wake up, trading points back-and-forth with the Menes until the set’s midway point, 13-8. Moanalua pulled away with a 5-1 run to force Hilo’s second timeout of the set as Na Menehune doubled up the Vikings, 18-9.

The timeout proved to be more effective for Moanalua, scoring the next five points following the stoppage. After sitting on set point for a few rallies, Na Menehune took the second set, 25-13.

The night’s third set proved to be similar to the first two (with a slight variance) as Moanalua and Hilo sparred back-and-forth early to the tune of a 3-1 Hilo lead, the Vikings’ first (and largest) lead of the evening. Na Menehune woke up quickly after, scoring five straight points to retake a lead they wouldn’t relinquish again.

The lead would balloon to seven, 12-5, for Moanalua before forcing a timeout from Hilo. Despite the Vikings’ best efforts, it was only a matter of time before Na Menehune overwhelmed them in the third set, 25-15. 

The Vikings will play Friday against KS-Maui, who lost 3-0 against Punahou Thursday, with a chance at finishing as the fifth-best team in the state.

Punahou, who won against KS-Maui in straight sets, will face Na Menehune in the state semifinals Friday night at Moanalua High School at 5 p.m. HST. 

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