HONOLULU — No on-court outcome could prevent a happy homecoming for two far-flung local boys.
Long Island University freshmen Kale Spencer and La‘iakea‘oaloali‘ilani Shaun Hirahara were thankful for every second, every point they got on the Stan Sheriff Center floor on Friday night.
That it came in a loss by sweep to top-ranked Hawaii, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16, did little to lessen the surreal moment. A throng of more than a hundred sky blue-clad local LIU converts made themselves heard among the crowd of 4,140 (5,245 tickets issued), especially when the Kamehameha-Maui and Kamehameha-Kapalama alumni appeared on the floor together in Set 3.
For Hirahara, this week marked the first action of his career. He appeared as a serving substitute in UH’s sweep of the Sharks on Wednesday. On Friday, he was initially a serving sub again, but was told by coach Kai Dugquem to change into the libero’s reversed-color jersey between Sets 2 and 3, a moment that gave him butterflies.
“When I first started playing volleyball, I’ve always dreamed of playing at UH, in the (SSC),” Hirahara said. “I’ve come to all the games. I watched every single game with my parents. It’s quite an experience and I’m very proud and happy that I could play in front of (them).”
He had a service ace and two digs.
One of the first people he hugged afterward was Punahou’s Rick Tune, his former coach with the Spike And Serve club.
Once Spencer, a 6-foot-5 hitter from of Kula, Maui, found out about the two-match set against UH, he told his mother to round up as many people as she could to make the short hop over. Close to 100 from the Valley Isle did.
“It’s just a blessing to be back home and play in front of everyone we grew up around,” Spencer said. “And for the (rest of) the guys, it’s a great experience for them to come and experience Hawaii, experience me and La‘i’s life these past 18 years.”
Spencer, who was a KS-Maui multi-sport standout and 2022 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor inductee, wasn’t too concerned about his stat line Friday (two kills and seven errors on 11 swings), and chalked it up as a learning experience. In his two matches prior to the trip to the islands, he had his most productive outings to date with 17 kills, five digs and three blocks in a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson, then 21 kills, 11 digs and nine blocks in a five-set win over Saint Francis (Pa.).
The two were sold on journeying to New York – about as far away as possible for collegiate men’s volleyball – to help build a program from close to scratch. LIU’s first season of men’s volleyball was in 2022 and there are eight freshmen on the roster this year.
So far in 2023, the Sharks are 6-6 after the pair of expected losses to UH.
“It’s been great,” Spencer said. “It’s part of the reason why I chose to go up there; it’s an opportunity to go and make a name for LIU men’s volleyball … and just build a program, and start from the very roots.”
Said Hirahara, “A lot of us are very excited that we’re only a second-year program, so we have a lot to prove for ourselves and we can always create a legacy afterwards. That’s one good thing; we can start the LIU culture.”
Both smiled when asked about getting adjusted to living on a drastically different type of island.
“The cold was the first thing I noticed. I got super cold, I had to get all warm (clothing), jackets and stuff,” Hirahara said. “I think the environment itself is different because over here it’s jungle and concrete. Over there it’s just concrete jungle.”
The two are roommates, helping each other stay connected to back home.
“It’s definitely a whole culture shock. Like, you don’t see the sun for a couple days,” Spencer said. “And it’s such a different vibe. But I’m loving it up there, learning a lot. Learning from different friends and really just exploring the world.”
Livan Moreno led the Sharks with six kills on 17 swings (.235) on Friday. LIU led UH in blocks for most of the match until the Rainbow Warriors finished up 8.5-8.0.
LIU hit minus-.026 as a team. UH hit .423 with backup setter Brett Sheward again taking the reins with Jakob Thelle resting a balky knee. He had 36 assists and nine digs and libero ‘Eleu Choy, filling in at libero, had four digs.
Middle Cole Hogland had five kills on six swings and was in on five blocks. Hitter Spyros Chakas had a match-high 10 kills.
UH (13-0), which tied its program record of 26 consecutive home wins, prepares to host No. 7 Pepperdine for a two-match set on Wednesday and Friday. The Waves just dealt No. 5 Grand Canyon its first loss of the season, leaving UH and No. 14 Charleston as the only unbeaten teams in the land.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.