Joaquin Lessary drilled eight aces as Kahuku stunned Campbell 25-18, 25-12 to qualify for the boys volleyball Division II state tourney.

Kahuku advanced to the final of the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference playoffs and sealed that state berth despite going 3-8 during the regular season. Lessary, the Red Raiders setter, was the glue for a team heavy on first-year players. The 6-foot-3 senior doled out 10 assists and added two blocks as Kahuku’s front wall dominated the match.

"We’ve gotten big improvement from everyone," Lessary said. "I thought we would have a chance this week. I knew Campbell would come back and fight."

Lessary’s pinpoint serving, heavy with topspin, was the trump card.

"He’s accurate. He’s the only one who has played club, and he’s played seven or eight years," Kahuku coach Kaniela Kalama said.

Kahuku (6-9) will meet the White East’s top team, McKinley, tomorrow at the Tigers’ gym. Kahuku lost to McKinley last week in the double-elimination playoff tourney and will need to defeat the Tigers tomorrow and Saturday to claim the title.

"McKinley’s a really tough team. We lost to them both times (in the regular season)," Lessary said. "This is going to show who really wants the title."

Campbell, which finished first in the White West coming into the playoffs, ended the season 12-3. The Sabers had their share of highlights at the net, but had little resistance against Kahuku’s serve. The Red Raiders finished with 12 aces and just five service errors. Nine of those aces came in the runaway second set.

The improved play of sophomore LaMone Williams and junior Rashaan Falemalu has been a big spark for the Red Raiders. The two football standouts are fairly new to organized volleyball. Williams, a second-year player, finished with a team-high 11 kills. Playing the middle and mixing in some swings on either side, he hit .769.

"I keep learning every day, learning new stuff. There’s always something to learn every day," Williams said.

Falemalu, a 6-foot outside hitter, is playing organized volleyball for the first time. He added a kill and an ace, providing plenty of support on Kahuku’s block. Injuries derailed Kahuku earlier in the year, but the team is peaking now.

"Our serving and our passing was pretty good. We actually looked like we were happy to play. All season it’s been up and down," Kalama said.

Sophomore Ellery Vitug led the Sabers with three kills. Hampered by myriad unforced errors, Campbell hit .056 for the match and had just one ace. Kahuku hit .238.

The Sabers started strong, seizing a 12-7 lead in the opening set. Kahuku then went to Williams, a mobile lefty. He had four kills as the Red Raiders took the lead 13-12.

Campbell was within 18-17 before Kahuku closed the set out with a 7-1 run.

The second set was tied at 7 before Joseph Fonoimoana went back to serve. Kahuku scored the next six points, getting three kills from Williams and an ace by Fonoimoana to take control.

Kahuku put it out of reach when Lessary pounded six aces in a row making it 21-8.