Enterprise Prep celebrates volleyball title

Another season. Another unbeaten record. Another state championship.

Enterprise Prep Academy capped off another volleyball season Saturday, winning the AISA Class A state title at Faulkner University in Montgomery, beating Sumter Academy in the finals, 25-22, 25-8 and 25-12.

The Patriots beat Marengo Academy in the semifinals 25-18, 25-12, 25-17.

The victories helped Enterprise Prep finish the season at 42-0.

They have won 85 straight regular-season matches over the last two years, going 43-0 and also taking the AISA Class A crown in 2008.
The Patriots did lose a couple of matches in between at a national tournament, also winning twice at that event.

“This one is special because trying to repeat is more difficult than winning the first one,” EPA head coach Roscoe Kahumoku said. “Sumter Academy gave us everything we could handle. They were a good team, well-coach and well-disciplined.

“They attacked our weaknesses and we had to make adjustments. We made the adjustments and luckily it worked out.”

Kahumoku called the two-year unbeaten streak “unbelievable.”

“If you pinch me two years from now, I will probably go ‘Whoo, what a team.’”

Sumter, winners of an AISA best nine state titles, came out attacking the right back of the Patriot defense, but EPA fought through it and won the opening game, 25-22.

Solid serving by Enterprise Prep’s Angela Hill and Sarah Gunn then helped the Patriots take game two, 25-8.

The Patriots found themselves down 7-6 in game three. Enter Kelly Kahumoku. The Patriot senior star had been out with a patella tendon injury in her knee and wasn’t expected to play.

However, she was able to serve. And serve she did — 17 straight times, including five aces, to push Enterprise Prep up 23-6. She also delivered key passes to setter Rebekah Gunn, who in turn set up teammates for key kills, especially Hannah Gunn.

Sumter stayed tough for a few minutes, but Hannah Gunn and Hill served out a point each to finish off the game and match.

Earlier in the day, EPA dominated Marengo. Hill served on 29 points, Rebekah Gunn, the eventual tournament MVP, served on 14 points and delivered 20 assists. Taylor Rogers had 10 kills and served on five points.

In addition to Rebekah Gunn being named tournament MVP, Sarah Gunn and Kelly Kahumoku were named to the all-tournament team.

“Everybody on the team deserved to be on the all-tournament team as everybody played well,” coach Kahumoku said, referring to his six starters.

The Lady Patriots are now gearing up to play in the National Association of Christian Athletes Volleyball Tournament in Dayton, Tenn. The tournament starts next Tuesday and runs through Friday.

Rogers and Kelly Kahumoku are also scheduled to play in the AISA all-star match on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Alabaster.