KEALAKEKUA — Point by point, the Lions’ roar is growing louder, a scary prospect or the rest of the BIIF.
In just its second season playing the sport, Makua Lani has made its presence known as a BIIF boys volleyball contender, reeling off one big win after another.
The Lions’ latest conquest was a straight set victory over perennial contender Konawaena 25-23, 25-18, 25-19 on Friday night at Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium.
“These kids are special,” Makua Lani head coach Ryenn Sotelo said. “They’ve worked hard and took it upon themselves in the offseason to get better. And they are the humblest bunch you will ever meet.”
The win puts Makua Lani at 8-2 on the season and undefeated among the Division II ranks. The Lions are comfortably on top of the standings, with the team’s only losses coming against undefeated D-I squads Hilo and Kamehameha.
Junior Kahoku Benson led the way for the Lions against Konawaena with a packed stat line, registering 13 kills, four blocks and 13 digs.
“It’s crazy,” Benson said. “It’s only our second year so it’s surprising us all. But it just shows what hard work can do.”
He had some help, including from his brother, Kaipono Benson, who notched timely points and was a big presence at the net.
“All the practice is paying off. We’re proud of all the boys,” Kaipono Benson said. “We look like a team that could go to states.”
If Makua Lani stays on their current trajectory, they will be heading to the state stage for the first time in program history, earning the BIIF’s berth as the D-II regular season champ.
But the Lions are being careful not to get ahead of themselves, which almost happened last week against a winless but feisty Honokaa squad. The Dragons pushed Makua Lani to five sets, but the Lions eventually emerged victorious, 25-16, 24-26, 19-25, 25-20, 15-6.
Sotelo was happy to see how his team rebounded from that somewhat lackluster performance with their convincing win over the Wildcats, holding off the multiple charges Konawaena made to get back in the match.
“We knew it was going to be all about heart tonight, but I did not think we were going to take it in three sets, especially considering how we played against Honokaa,” Sotelo said.
The Lions fought hard to get back in the first set after falling behind, notching three consecutive points after trailing 23-22 to take the first set.
Makua Lani built a nice cushion in the second set, but Konawaena made a push. However, a block by Kaipono Benson and big swings from Kahoku Benson and Elliott Veisauyadra kept the Wildcats at bay, helping Makua Lani to a convincing second set win.
Veisauyadra was a spark plug for the Lions, coming through with huge, powerful points that kept the momentum in the Lions’ favor.
“Elliott — where did he come from? He was tearing it up tonight,” Sotelo said with a laugh, referencing the work of the sophomore. “They all do their part on this team. That’s what makes them special.”
Looking to extend the match, Konawaena reeled off three straight points to make it 19-18 in the third set. But the Lions’ composure continued to be the deciding factor. Two big swings by Kahoku Benson changed the tide for good, leading Makua Lani to victory.
“We believe the game is 80 percent mental, 20 percent physical,” Kahoku Benson said. “We just try to support each other and keep the positivity going the whole game.”
The Lions have knocked off both Hawaii Prep (4-3) and Konawaena (5-5) this season — programs that have combined for the last four titles.
“It’s a ton of fun coming in, being an underdog and upsetting teams people think we don’t have a chance against,” Kaipono Benson said.
The match against the two-time defending BIIF champion Ka Makani was a thriller, with the Lions surviving a Hawaii Prep comeback effort 26-24, 25-22, 14-25, 27-29, 15-12.
“That’s really what started it all,” Sotelo said, marking that game in early March as the point where expectations started to rise from being a good team, to a championship-caliber team.
And that underdog role, well, it might be a thing of the past.
The Lions — who now have a target on their back as the team to beat — make no secret about vocalizing their title aspirations. After the win against the Wildcats, Makua Lani broke their huddle with a “championship” cheer.
“That’s our focus,” Kahoku Benson said. “Go Lions, man.”