Ideally, Jordan Redo-Rost would be hitting the entire time for Hana. Instead, the senior does a bit of everything for the Dragons.
Redo-Rost had 27 assists, 18 digs and 14 kills as second-seeded Hana rallied for a 15-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 15-8 win over Ka‘u in Thursday’s Division II quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA State Volleyball Championships at Farrington.
Second-seeded Hana (12-3), making its first state appearance since 2008, will play St. Francis in Friday’s 5 p.m. semifinal at Farrington.
"Jordan is an awesome player, if I could have him hit instead of set, I would," Hana coach Kimo Helekahi said. "But I don’t have anyone with those setting hands. He is definitely a leader."
Noah Hoopai-Feliciano added 15 kills and 18 digs and Chasen Kanakaole added 10 kills for Hana, the Maui Interscholastic League champion.
"I just want to get it to the hitters," said Redo-Rost, who had two kills to help the Dragons close out the match. "The hitters were on."
Cameron Enriques had 41 kills and 25 digs for Ka‘u (12-4), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up. Brian Gascon added 15 kills and 12 digs for the Trojans, who didn’t have any other player with more than one kill.
Enriques, a 5-foot-5 outside hitter, nearly carried the Trojans to the win. He swung away from the left, middle and back, and had 100 of his team’s 165 hitting attempts. Even Hana’s adjustments on blocking and positioning its back-row players couldn’t stop Enriques.
"We basically tried to adjust by switching our defense, also blocking, taking line and making him hit angle," Helekahi said. "At times, we tried to move the blocking and tried to have him hit line. But he just kept doing his thing."
Hana opened a 10-4 lead in Set 5 after four consecutive Ka‘u errors. Trojans coach Joshua Ortega thought the Dragons’ camaraderie helped them finish the match. The Dragons had seven kills and no errors in Set 5.
"They trust each other," Ortega said. "It gave us a good example for tomorrow when we go into the next match, we got to stick together just like what Hana did."
Redo-Rost, one of two seniors on the team, is excited to play in his first state tournament.
"I’m a senior, this is my last year, I’m glad," Redo-Rost said. "It was hard, we have to fight.
"We came back this year and trained hard.""
KAUAI DEF. HAWAII PREP 3-2
Kalawai’a Judd had 16 kills to lead the Red Raiders to a 25-22, 25-12, 13-25, 25-27, 15-10 win over Ka Makani in a match at Moanalua.
Kealii Colipano and Kekoa Tecson-Kalani added 13 kills each for the Red Raiders (11-4), the Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion.
Tucker Higgins had 14 kills and Colin Yates added 11 kills for Ka Makani (9-7), the BIIF champion.
HAWAII BAPTIST DEF. PEARL CITY 3-0
Isaac Liva had 15 kills and Caleb Fisher added 11 to lead the top-seeded and four-time state champion Eagles (10-0) to a 25-13, 25-16, 25-16 win over the Chargers (6-7) at Moanalua.
St. FRANCIS DEF. CASTLE 3-2
The Saints (6-6) held off the Knights (8-7) 27-25, 24-26, 25-22, 24-26, 15-11 in a match at Farrington.
DIVISION I
FRIDAY
SEMIFINALS
At Moanalua
Punahou vs. King Kekaulike, 5 p.m.
KS-Hawaii vs. Moanalua, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
At Blaisdell Arena
THIRD PLACE
Semifinal losers, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
THURSDAY
Kauai def. Hawaii Prep 3-2
Hawaii Baptist def. Pearl City 3-0
Hana def. Ka‘u 3-2
St. Francis def. Castle 3-2
FRIDAY
Consolation
Pearl City vs. Hawaii Prep, 3:30 p.m.
at Moanalua
Ka‘u vs. Castle, 3:30 p.m. at Farrington
SEMIFINALS
At Farrington
Hana vs. St. Francis, 5 p.m.
Hawaii Baptist vs. Kauai, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
At Blaisdell Arena
Fifth place—Noon
Third place—1:30 p.m.
Championship—5 p.m.
