KEALAKEKUA — Not a lot of volleyball fans saw this one coming: Waiakea not just beating Hilo, but sweeping its crosstown rival in the most important match of the season.
KEALAKEKUA — Not a lot of volleyball fans saw this one coming: Waiakea not just beating Hilo, but sweeping its crosstown rival in the most important match of the season.
The Warriors played tough in the clutch, and knocked off the Vikings 29-27, 25-23, 25-22 in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I semifinals Thursday night at Konawaena’s Ellison Onizuka Gym.
And who would have guessed that a Warrior freshman would lead the charge. Kayla Kahauolopua smashed 15 kills, including the last two in the final set.
“We talked before the game about being in the zone,” she said. “Our theme was, ‘For us and by us.’ This win feels really good, especially for the seniors who have worked so hard.”
Junior middle blocker Kadara Marshall high-jumped and hit hard to add nine kills, practically all of them timely. Marshall and Kahauolopua made a powerful one-two punch.
That was necessary because Hilo junior outside hitter Keola Katayama drilled 15 kills, and senior hitter Taylor Alicuben added 10 kills.
The Warriors secured their first berth to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament since 2010.
“I’m so proud of Kayla. She’s actually a middle, but we worked with her on her timing, and she’s coming along at outside hitter,” Waiakea coach Ashley Hanohano said. “I know she can do much better, and for all our hitters as well. We worked hard and played hard.
“The key is always our defense, not only blocking but back row. Our offense put in work, and our middles were clutch. Going to states is so big. That was our main goal. That’s why we’re so excited and going through the roof.”
The season is over for the Vikings (11-3), who end a run of three straight state trips, and wave goodbye to six seniors: Alicuben, Raevyn Kaupu (six kills), Kyra Kaloi, defender Carol Ross, Ma’alahi Remmers (four kills) and Ha’a Kekaualua-Kalauli.
The Warriors are young with a lot of youthful starters: sophomore right-side hitter Lindsey Kakano Maikui (four kills), junior opposite/setter Hi’ilei Ishii-Chaves (five kills), freshman libero Jordyn Hayashi and sophomore setter Taniah Ayap.
Outside hitter Alison Fuata (three kills) and middle Monique Apuakehau (five kills) are Waiakea’s only two senior starters.
In the other BIIF Division I semifinal, Kamehameha defeated Kealakehe 25-12, 25-21, 25-22.
Kamehameha (14-0), the four-time defending champion, will play Waiakea (11-4) for the BIIF title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Onizuka gym.
The last time the crosstown rivals met, Hilo outlasted Waiakea in five sets. The reunion was faster, but provided a load of entertainment value for the fans.
In the first set, the Vikings held what seemed to be a comfortable 18-14 lead. Then it started shrinking, and Marshall pounded an over-pass for a 23-22 Warrior lead.
Marshall ripped another kill for a 28-27 lead, and the Hilo had a hitting error to close the first game.
In the second set, Alicuben served eight consecutive points, including a pair of aces, to push the Vikings ahead 12-3. But during a seven-point Warrior run, Kahauolopua had three kills and a block to leapfrog the score to 17-14.
Marshall provided the set-ending honors with a kill to swing all of the momentum Waiakea’s way.
The third set was tied 21-21. Then Hilo had a serving error and a hitting error. That was followed by a Alicuben kill.
It was 23-21, the Warriors ahead and sniffing a state berth. Kahauolopua finished off the Viks with back-to-back kills.
Waiakea’s win was bittersweet for at least one player: Maikui. Her mom is Jenny Fernandez, originally from Kohala. She’s a cousin of Hilo coach Drew Fernandez.
Still, there was a lot of smiles, and Marshall neatly summed up the long journey.
“It’s just amazing. From last year to the past five months, we’ve worked hard, and it’s great to go to states and share it with the seniors,” she said. “We believed in ourselves from start to finish. We never got down on ourselves. That was the key. We all believed.”
• Kamehameha def. Kealakehe 25-12, 25-21, 25-22: Kaiulani Ahuna knocked down 14 kills while Maraea O’Connor added seven kills and four blocks to lead the Warriors.
Nika Paogofie-Buyten had nine kills and Rashai Kailiwai added eight for the Waveriders. They’ll be dangerous next season because both are just juniors.
However, Kamehameha had better ball-control with 11 aces, compared to Kealakehe’s one ace. More than anything that stat summed up the match.
Basically, it was hard for the ‘Riders to get any easy points because the Warriors passed everything on a dime. Then all Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker had to do was set the ball and watch her hitters fire rockets to the floor.
And when Kamehameha and Waiakea tangle for the BIIF title, O’Connor will be a versatile weapon. In one rotation, she took swings from the left post while Ahuna moved to the right.
O’Connor also pummeled a kill from the back row, giving the offense more attack options. Judging from her smile, it was a fun night for her.
“I liked our offense. That was my favorite part,” she said. “We practiced a long time on different sets and plays, and we got to execute them.
“This year, I’ve played back row, which has been a change for me, working out of the back row and hitting out of the back row. We had Kaiu on the right and I was on the left. That was a fun rotation for me.”