No matter how hard the Pilipaa hitters attacked the ball, kills were next to impossible because Piopio Bears libero Jordyn Hayashi was digging everything.
Behind her match-high 19 digs, the Bears defeated Pilipaa 25-21, 25-6 for the girls 18 title at the 61st Haili Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday night at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where offense took a backseat to defense.
Hayashi, a Waiakea senior, piled up 12 digs in the first set and seven in the second. She made it look routine and was the biggest reason Piopio had far more kills than Pilipaa, 23-11. She’s 5 feet 4 but was the biggest defensive presence on the court.
Lexi Paglinawan, a Hilo senior, was at her shot-making best and put down eight kills while hitter/setter Kailee Kurokawa (Hilo) drilled seven kills for the Bears on a part-time attacking basis. Kaumaka Sibayton (Keaau) added four kills, and Kawai Ua (Hilo) had three kills.
Nani Spaar (Kamehameha) hammered six kills while Laurie McGrath (Hilo) added three kills for Pilipaa. Anastasia Tuifua (Kealakehe) and Mahala Kaapuni (Hilo) had one kill each for an offense that never got started.
Pilipaa had 24 unforced errors, including 18 hitting miscues. Hitting slumps happen. Even Babe Ruth struck out once every 6.3 at-bats. Piopio had just 14 giveaway points.
The senior-laden Bears had a memorable season. On Saturday, they defeated HI Intensity 28-26 in a one-set, sudden-death match for the girls 18 championship at the Moku O Keawe Region tournament at Hilo Civic.
During the Moku O Keawe season, Piopio went undefeated. The team also finished second in the 18s division at the prestigious Las Vegas Classic in February. It was a good last run for the team’s nine seniors: Hayashi (Waiakea), Paglinawan (Hilo), Kurokawa (Hilo), Ua (Hilo), Sibayton (Keaau), Chasati Babagay (Hilo), Madi Lee (Hawaii Prep), Angel Navor (Waiakea), and Jazz Alston (Waiakea).
Taina Leao (Hilo) is a junior outside hitter. She’ll be the leader when the next young crop comes up to the 18s age group.
“We had one goal at the beginning of the season and that was to win the Moku O Keawe Region and Haili,” Hayashi said. “It means a lot because the majority of the team is seniors. We play as a team, flow as a team and pass as a team.”
Pilipaa captured the 16s title at the Moku O Keawe Region tournament to secure a berth to the USA Volleyball Junior National championships, slated for the summer in Detroit. The team jumped an age bracket at Haili.
Age wasn’t the difference between the two teams. It was Hayashi, who further cemented her reputation as the island’s best ever libero. She co-shared the BIIF player of the year with Ua as a junior and Waiakea teammate Kayla Kahauolopua as a senior.
It’s rare when a libero lands on the All-BIIF first team. Outside of Hayashi, no libero has ever been named the BIIF POY.
Piopio Bears coach Laura Thompson is Big Island born, so she’s seen her fair share of great BIIF liberos. There’s no doubt in her mind who’s at the top of her list.
“I’d rank her as the best,” Thompson said. “She’s definitely at the top. She works hard, not just in the gym, but on her own at home. She’s very supportive of her teammates. She knows how to work with each one. She’s very humble, and that’s what our team is all about.”
Instead of stressing technical strong points such as footwork or soft hands, Thompson described all the intangibles that make her fit in with the Bears, who were shorter across the board than the younger Pilipaa ballclub.
At Las Vegas, Hayashi was hospitalized due to dehydration and missed the Classic semifinals and championship. She worked to get herself back in shape for the stretch run of the Moku O Keawe Region and Haili.
As the Bears were taking photos and celebrating, Thompson caught herself reminiscing. She saw that drive early in Hayashi, who’ll play ball at Ithaca College in New York, known for its sports psychology program.
“We had her when she was 10 years old, and she stayed with us,” Thompson said. “She really came far from where she was. She was small and tiny, but she compensated with her hard work to get where she is.”
And the hard work never stops for Hayashi.
“We’re not going to nationals,” she said. “We have girls going to college, and we’ll keep working hard.”
Girls 16s
• Piopio Bears def. Keaukaha Cuzins, 25-22, 33-31: The second set kept going back and forth until the Bears won a joust at the net and Tehani DeRego (Kamehameha) slammed aloha ball.
Piopio assistant Roland Kealoha took charge coaching the team, which gave Thompson the chance to enjoy the action.
“It was incredible to watch, how hard both teams were working,” she said. “That was a championship match right there.”
Results
Wednesday
Hilo Civic
• Girls 18s: Piopio Bears def. Pilipaa, 25-21, 25-6. Sportsmanship: Panaewa Aloha.
• Girls 16s: Piopio Bears def. Keaukaha Cuzins, 25-22, 33-31. Sportsmanship: Kamuela.
• Girls 14s: Keaukaha Cuzins def. HI Intensity. Sportsmanship: Na Koa.
• Girls 12s: Piopio Bears def. Mauloa. Sportsmanship: Nalauao.
• Coed 10s: Milolii def. Keaukaha Cuzins White. Sportsmanship: Lil Hotties.
• Boys 14s: Pilipaa def. Wiwoole. Sportsmanship: Wiwoole.
• Boys 12s: Big Island Boys. Sportsmanship: Big Island Boys.
• Boys 10s: Keaukaha Cuzins. Sportsmanship: Keaukaha Cuzins.