Return of the King: Punahou reigns in boys volleyball once again

HONOLULU – Death, taxes and the Punahou boys volleyball team winning a state title.

The Buffanblu completed an undefeated season with their record 40th state championship after a four-set win over Kamehameha at Moanalua Saturday night.

Tournament most outstanding player Tanoa Scanlan put down a match-high 21 kills and Cameron Porter added 17 kills with nine digs to power Punahou (18-0) to a 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-7 win over the Warriors (15-7), who snapped a string of 10 consecutive titles by the Buffanblu a year ago.

Punahou’s Cameron Porter was at the service line to close out a 5-0 run in set three. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

“I think in the offseason and during the start of the season, we all knew we needed to bring it back to Punahou,” said Porter.

“Seeing my (older) brother and some of the upperclassmen have to leave without a win last year, it motivated all of us to work hard in practice and make sure we executed in games. It lead to a really ‘together’ group that worked really hard and executed tonight.”

Punahou coach Rick Tune, who has led the Buffanblu to 13 state titles, noted that it required a lot of hard work.

The Punahou boys volleyball team celebrates after a point in the fourth set against Kamehameha. Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

“I’m going to be honest with you, this was a lot of work that these boys put in. Their families put in, our school put in, our coaching staff put in with these guys. We’re a really young team. We only had one returning starter from last year’s team so much of it was how to be under the bright lights.”

The two squads split the first two sets of the championship match which set up a pivotal third set. Punahou held a 20-16 lead before Kamehameha tied it at 20, only to see the Buffanblu fire off a 5-0 run to close out the frame with Porter at the service line.

With 25 points to go to win the state title in set four, Punahou came out in a fury. The Buffanblu led 7-0 and 12-1 before winning the final set in convincing fashion by a differential of 18 points.

“We’ve been talking about being good on both sides of the ball and how dominant that we can be on both sides of the ball. When we’re executing and doing the right things, that last set, that was an announcement,” Tune said.

“That was an announcement that this team has arrived. That team played on both sides on the ball and that’s what they can do.”

Conor Wlliams had 14 kills and Cain Kahahawai added 10 more to lead the Warriors in the loss.