KAHULUI– The Maui Warriors boys volleyball team defeated the Maui High Sabers Wednesday, Mar. 15, at Maui High School Gymnasium. Losing to the Sabers in their first set, the Warriors came back and won the next three.

The Warriors were neck-and-neck with the Sabers throughout the first set, but the Sabers started to target Senior Keomaikalani Chun. Chun had the most offensive opportunities, and the Sabers picked up on that and used it to their advantage, pulling through with a win in the first set, 27-25.

“We knew that we wanted to raise our momentum and do better, so the next three sets, we did pretty well,” junior Tyson Haupu said.

The Warriors started off the next set fired up as Senior Hanalei Alapai earned the Warriors some offensive points.

The Warriors caught on to the Sabers’ tactics and drew them to Chun, where Alapai could spike the winning point to end the second set 25-18.

“The boys really had to pull through to win the next sets,” coach Robert Brede said.

The third and fourth sets leaned to both sides as the Warriors were caught off guard by the Sabers’ spikes, but the Warriors earned their wins with well-timed blocks and fast decisions.

“We started to work better as a team, and that’s how we won the last three sets,” Haupu said.

The Warriors defeated the Sabers in the third and fourth sets, 25-20 and 25-21, respectively.

“We still need to work on our fundamentals and teamwork. Then, we can defeat our opponent,” Coach Brede said.

Their win against the Sabers makes Kamehameha Maui’s season 3-1, with the one loss to Nā Aliʻi, but the Warriors’ determination and this year’s team of talented players will bring the team a long way into the Maui Interscholastic League season.

Their next game will be Wednesday, Mar. 22, against the Baldwin Bears at Ka’ulaheanuiokamoku Gymnasium at 6 p.m.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Photo by Brianne Reformina

Seniors Keahi Jacintho, Keomaikalani Chun and Haweo Johnson prepare for a serve from the Sabers.