The junior varsity boys volleyball team came out number one in the season after defeating the Maui High Sabers 3-0 during their match tonight. The match was held in the middle school gym because the high school gym was being prepared for Friday’s ʻAha Mele.

“I was hoping we would get a win because this is our last JV game, and we had a lot of inexperienced people, and we wanted to let them play,” sophomore Keoni Rosete said. “We knew that [Maui High] had one strong server, but he got moved up to [varsity], so we pretty much knew that we had the game.”

According to the junior varsity head coach Bala Spencer, this year’s team had many first-time players and only a few who had played on the team last year.

“There’s not that many guys on the JV team that have a lot of volleyball experience,” Coach Bala said. “I wish that the MIL had JV tournaments and more playing time…and that both boys and girls get more playing time and experience to get better at.”

Coach Bala is also the girls volleyball head coach in the fall.

The Warriors started the match by scoring the first point, but the score switched back and forth between serves, and the score tied at 5-5. The Sabers pulled ahead a little, increasing the score to 6-7, but the 1-point lead did not hold. The score continuously tied at 9-9, 10-10, and then 13-13. By this time, the Warriors were able to get in a few more points, bringing the score from 15-13 to 19-18, and finally to 21-20, with the Warriors winning the first set.

The Warriors also scored the first point in the second set, taking the lead. The Warriors kept their point lead throughout, and the second set ended with a score of 21-15.

Even though the Warriors had already won the first two sets and the game, they played a third set up to 15. The Maui High Sabers won this third set, 12-15.

“I think our serves were good and our hits. Our passing and communication need to get better,” sophomore Brendan Urayanza said. “We were more focused [this time]. We had confidence in ourselves, and we pulled through with a win.”

Overall, the junior varsity boys volleyball team remained undefeated, aside from their only loss against Lahainaluna in the first match of the season.

“[Overall this season, they did] really well. From where we started to where we ended, really well,” Coach Bala said. “I’m just proud of the guys and happy that I was part of the program, and happy that I could help them grow on and off the court.”

Gallery • 5 Photos

Photo by Alyssa Urayanza

Kea Aguirre (10) caps a spike as Brendan Urayanza (13) goes to cover.