HONOLULU — The Oahu Interscholastic Association got its boys volleyball breakthrough – just not at the expense of Punahou’s dynasty.
The powerhouse Buffanblu denied the upset bid of OIA champion Moanalua, 25-18, 25-22, 25-13 in the New City Nissan / HHSAA Division I championship match in front of about 1,500 fans at the Blaisdell Arena on Saturday night, restoring a semblance of normalcy to the sport after two COVID-canceled spring seasons.
Preceding that match, Pearl City became the first OIA school to win a boys volleyball title at any state classification since Roosevelt in 1979. Coach Sean Chang’s Chargers defeated Seabury Hall in four sets for the OIA’s first state title in the 15 editions of Division II tournaments.
Of course, the main show was still Punahou.
Punahou (16-0) picked up right where it left off in 2019 with its ninth straight championship and 38th in the 52 editions of the tournament.
But for coach Rick Tune, getting his title team up to the level of its predecessors was no small feat, even with a crop of seniors going off to play at the next level.
“This is kind of a new moment,” Tune said. “I’m just really happy for our whole team, (which has) really persevered through some really tough (times). … It’s a hell of a senior class.”
That group includes his son, Aidan, who had a match-high 16 kills Saturday in being named tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The Tunes agreed 10 years ago that they would have strictly a coach-player relationship, not dad-son, while on the court, and they largely stuck to the deal.
“It’s hard for me not to click that off right now, but I love my son tremendously,” Tune said. “I’m excited to see him go to the next level (to Pepperdine) and see what he can do there.”
Said Aidan Tune, “I’m just grateful to have him as a coach and be part of this program, and there’s nothing more to say than that.”
USC-bound Riley Haine added 15 kills on 24 swings and Ball State-bound Keau Thompson chipped in 13 on 25 as that Big Three each hit .360 or better. They combined for all but four of the Buffanblu kills.
Haine said playing with Spike And Serve, the Tune-coached club that is comprised of many Punahou players, over the last two years was key during the COVID layoff leading into this season.
“We played hard all season. We trained really hard in the weight room and in the gym,” Haine said. “I think we really showed our skills in this final set and final match. Super proud of the boys in how we played.”
Setter Keegan Au Yuen guided his team to a .367 hitting percentage with 42 assists.
The Buffanblu met the moment with an impeccable serve-receive game without an error, and dealt seven aces to help make up for a subpar blocking night.
“Our passing is the foundation of everything we do,” Rick Tune said.
Moanalua’s big gun, senior Keanu Kawaa, was limited to seven kills and five errors on 29 swings against many of his club teammates, hitting .069 a night after he attempted a whopping 85 swings and put down 30 kills in a five-set marathon against Kamehameha. Punahou players gave him hugs of respect afterward.
“That kid gave his heart and soul last night,” Rick Tune said. “He plays for me in club. I love that kid. He had to have been a little bit tired after giving 85 swings the night before. That’s tough for anybody to handle.”
Na Menehune (15-1) were held to .090 hitting as a team. Alan Cabanting’s program also lost to Punahou in the finals in 2018 and 2016.
Some rare boys volleyball glory for Oahu public schools was still had on the night.
Pearl City (14-2) leaned on a two-headed attack of Keahi Kaneakua and Fati Seei-Tofi to do its damage in its 31-29, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22 victory over Seabury of the Maui Interscholastic League. Those two combined for 31 kills on 99 swings.
The OIA champion Chargers put themselves in position for glory after upsetting top D-II seed Saint Louis of the ILH in four sets the night before.
“Just to win one for the OIA, not just Pearl City and not just the community, but for the OIA, that’s a cool feeling,” said Chang, the seventh-year Chargers leader.
Two kills by Tiandrew Taimanao late in the extended first set were big in helping the Chargers get out to an early lead, especially after Seabury (8-3) squared it in the second set.
Chang, watching from courtside, was still in disbelief of what had transpired as Punahou was putting the finishing touches on its win. He said his program’s talent has come in waves during his coaching tenure, and right now he’s riding a big bump.
“Maybe not individually (the most talented), but team-wise, it’s the most balanced,” he said.
Twins Tyler and Thomas Russell combined for 42 kills on 126 swings for the Seabury Spartans.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.