During timeouts, coach Daniel Schultz implored his Lahainaluna volleyball team to move toward the ball. Their hesitant play led to mistakes and points for Kalaheo.

The Lunas responded, cleaning up their play and rallying for a 23-25, 25-16, 25-23, 16-25, 15-7 win over Kalaheo in Tuesday’s opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships at Kalani.

Justin Valdez had 18 kills and Kiakahi Kenolio-Dusenberry added 15 for the Lunas (11-6), who face second-seeded Moanalua (14-0) in today’s quarterfinals. Pono Murray had 12 kills and Justin Quitoriano had 49 assists in the win.

“We didn’t trust ourselves,” Quitoriano said. “We calmed down, took a deep breath and pulled ourselves together.”

Schultz reminded his team to change its mind-set. That perspective was necessary heading into Set 5.

“They were kind of questioning themselves, and when that happens we start making more mistakes and waiting for other people,” Schultz said.

Lahainaluna led 5-2 in Set 5 and saw its lead expand via Kalaheo errors. Lahainaluna had just six kills in the final set and outhit the Mustangs (9-7) .250 to -.115 in Set 5.

“I haven’t seen Lahainaluna play before, so we had to adjust quickly,” Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni said. “I believe we did. At some point, we made a few unforced errors in a row.”

Lahainaluna relied on Quitoriano’s sets and great verticals to get by a taller Kalaheo squad. The Lunas started just two players over 6 feet, whereas Kalaheo had 6-foot-plus players across the net on every rotation.

“I try to set them a little on and a little off the net,” Quitoriano explained.

Valdez, who is 5-9, had 18 digs and Kenolio-Dusenberry, who is 5-10, had 15 digs. Lahainaluna outdug Kalaheo 70 to 61. Lahainaluna had six blocks to Kalaheo’s five.

“Our guys jump pretty good,” Schultz said. “Justin Valdez has a pretty good vertical, so it throws people off. Our passing is pretty good. Today our defense was pretty solid. Usually if you don’t have a really big team, you make sure you’re picking up balls defensively. My guys were doing a good job of touching everything.”

Kainoa Peterson had 34 kills and Danny Beaton had 13 for Kalaheo. Spencer VanDerKamp finished with 46 assists.

“Today, Kainoa was really on fire, was working really well,” Leoni said. “We’re trying to get the ball to Kaimi (Ahn-DiFolco). “Today, I don’t think we gave him as much I’d like to, hoping to see a little bit more of him the rest of the tournament.”

Mililani 3, McKinley 0

Frederick Liva buried 11 kills on 22 attempts and the Trojans swept the Tigers 25-6, 25-15, 25-13.

Liva nearly had as many kills in the match as McKinley (13) had as a team.

Mililani moves on to face MIL champion King Kekaulike at 5 p.m. today at Moanalua.

Kahuku 3, Waiakea 1

Keaunui Ah You put down 10 kills and Ala Tito added seven as the Red Raiders beat the Warriors 25-19, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22.

Kahuku overcame 15 kills from Waiakea’s Ty Nishimura and 11 from Claysen Morante.

The Red Raiders play top seed and defending state champion Punahou.

Kamehameha 3, Waipahu 1

The Warriors held off the Marauders 25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22.

Kamehameha advances to face third-seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii in today’s quarterfinal at Kalani.