Peyton Pana knocked down 10 kills, and Kawai Wilbur-Gabriel and Maluhia Tandal each served four aces to lead Hilo to a sweep over Kealakehe in a BIIF volleyball match on Saturday at the Vikings gym.
In his first year playing volleyball, Pana, a 6-foot-2 sophomore middle blocker, slammed three kills in the first two sets and four in the last game to carry Hilo’s offense to a 25-9, 25-13, 25-13 win.
Wilbur-Gabriel, a junior outside hitter, and Tandal, a freshman setter/libero, and senior middle Aukai Chu Hing each had three kills for the Vikings (2-1), who last won the BIIF title in 1999.
Senior middle Tanoa Ulu had five kills and sophomore hitter Kekona Ulu had four kills, and senior hitter Duke Becker had three kills for the Waveriders (0-2), who last won the BIIF title in 2018.
However, Kealakehe struggled with its ball-control, surrendering 17 aces, including 10 in Game 1, and had 33 unforced errors.
Basically, Hilo had to only score an average of nine points per set with all the free gift points the Waveriders provided.
Kealakehe’s serve-receive got better but not its offense. The Waveriders gave up 10 aces in Game 1, five in Game 2, and two in Game 3. But they had seven unforced errors in the first set, six in the second set, and 13 in the last set.
In the first set, Wilbur-Gabriel served three consecutive aces during a 5-1 run, and Tandal served two straight during a 4-0 run that pushed the score to 14-11.
Hilo’s serves either went right through the Kealakehe ball-hander’s hands or off them.
Tandal smashed set point.
In the second set, the Waveriders trailed 18-13 before the Vikings closed with a 7-0 scoring spurt.
Kahikimoeokekai Santos served an ace during the closing run, which included five unforced errors and Pana’s kill for game point.
In Game 3, the Waveriders used a 7-0 run to grab a 9-6 lead, relying on Hilo’s six unforced errors and Becker kill to cap the rally.
Becker had a kill to get Kealakehe within 19-17, but Hilo scored the next four points on a Pana kill, two unforced errors, and a Tandal ace for a 23-17 lead.
The Vikings and Waveriders traded hitting errors, and Kanoa Pana-Nathaniel closed the match.
In a Division II match on Friday, Pahoa swept Honokaa 25-16, 25-15, 25-16 at the Daggers gym.
Uasi Tokelau had 10 kills and Kailen Kamakeeaina added five kills for the Daggers (4-0), who had 17 aces and 20 unforced errors.
Rafael Medina, Jheyden Haili, and Tokelau each had four aces for Pahoa, which last won the BIIF title in 2013.
Makani Miranda and Sherwin Acob had three kills each for the Dragons (0-1), who had four aces and 32 unforced errors. La’akea Meafou-Quintal had two aces.
Pahoa scored the last four points on Honokaa unforced errors. Chris Kaawaloa-Alidon served two straight aces to close Game 2. Medina served two straight aces to close the match.
