HHSAA volleyball: OIA foes overpower BIIF’s best

RICK WINTERS/West Hawaii Today Kamehameha's Nani Spaar spikes against Hilo last week during the BIIF Division I championship game. The Warriors and Vikings lost quarterfinal matches Thursday at the HHSAA championships.
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The OIA’s top two teams were too much for the BIIF’s top two schools at the HHSAA Division I tournament on Thursday on Oahu.

Kahuku, the OIA runner-up, beat Hilo, the BIIF champion, 25-12, 25-23, 25-19, and OIA champion Mililani defeated Kamehameha-Hawaii, the BIIF runner-up, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17 in the quarterfinals.

It’s the fourth consecutive year the BIIF won’t field an entry in the semifinals for both Division I and II. The last time was in 2014 when Konawaena won the state title.

Nani Spaar slammed 24 kills on 62 swings, and Tiani Bello added 14 kills on 40 attacks for Kamehameha (17-2), which hit .194.

Bello had 19 digs, Spaar picked up 14 digs, and libero Mahina Kenoi added 11 digs.

The Warriors play a consolation match at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Falanika Danielson had 15 kills, 17 digs and hit .231 to lead the Trojans (14-0), who hit .281.

For BIIF champion Vikings (16-2), Laurie McGrath and Mahala Ka’apuni each posted six kills, but the Red Raiders recorded more kills (43-30) and outhit Hilo .232-123.

In Division II, Damien swept Kohala 25-11,25-11, 25-19 in the quarterfinals, Leilehua eliminated Hawaii Prep 25-16, 20-25, 15-5, and Hana ousted Konawaena 27-2, 25-21.

Shania Fuentes had seven kills and Kiana Kauka and Mikayla Kekoa added four each for the No. 3 seed and BIIF champion Cowgirls (14-5).

Kohala plays a consolation match at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Kaimuki High’s gym.

Shelby Capllonch blasted 14 kills and hit .542 to lead the Monarchs (15-2), the ILH runner-up.

Gemma Palleschi had a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs and hit .219 to lead HPA (12-8), which finished with a .093 hitting percentage.

Ka Makani libero Jenna Perry had 11 digs while Mikaela Chong added nine digs.

Alohi Keola put down 13 kills to lead the Mules (7-7), the OIA runner-up.