Monday’s late-season BIIF volleyball action saw major milestones for DI leader Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i and DII leader Ka‘u HS, as each team prevailed over high-ranked opponents — winning the toughest tests remaining on their regular season schedules.
KSH 3 – Hilo 2
The Warriors got the last word in their season-long rivalry with the Vikings — during which Hilo edged closer and closer to defeating KSH, but always fell just short. The Warriors close out this season 3-0 against the Vikings.
KSH was still ranked No. 3 in the state in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s most recent Top-10 Poll, released Tuesday.
Monday was KSH’s final home game and second-to-last game of the regular season. Hilo gave the Warriors their toughest fight thus far — falling by just two points in the fifth set.
Hilo started things off with a 25-21 win on the first set. The lead swung back and forth throughout, until Hilo built and maintained a short lead starting around the 13-point mark. Coming out of a timeout with the Vikings ahead 24-21, Hilo won as an error was committed on KSH’s side.
The Warriors then bounced back to win the next two sets 25-16 and 25-14. KSH stifled Hilo’s offense — holding the Vikings to hitting percentages of .041 and -.091 during the second and third sets, respectively.
The fourth set went long, with Hilo maintaining a lead through most of the set before breaking a tie to win 27-25. Hilo’s two set-winning points were scored on kills by Kaliko Kealoha.
The Warriors pulled ahead to obtain a 13-9 lead during the fifth set, but the Vikings held out for a while before ultimately falling 15-13. KSH’s offense outshined Hilo’s again in the fifth set — hitting .476 with no errors compared to Hilo’s .217 with four errors.
KSH’s Maela Honma was the top hitter of the outing, notching 34 kills and hitting .227. Hilo’s Kealoha trailed very closely with 32 kills at .205. The Warriors’ Maile Kuamo‘o recorded a mammoth 52 assists.
Hilo’s defense recorded 101 digs while KSH tallied 92. The Vikings’ defense was led by Malulani Tandal with 29 digs — supported by Kealoha with 17, Victoria Wassman with 15, as well as Tinai Liusa and Anolani Santos with 13 each.
The Warriors’ Kealohi Dudoit was the outing’s top defender, recording 35 digs and receiving 27 serves at .931. Shay Beals also had 20 digs and received 30 serves at .938. Honma notched 17 digs.
KSH’s record has moved to 11-0 (22-5 including invitational tournaments), while Hilo’s fell to 5-3. The Vikings have otherwise dominated BIIF competiton, with all three of their losses coming from KSH.
The Warriors’ final BIIF outing of the regular season will be at 5 p.m. today at Kealakehe HS (0-8).
Hilo still has three matches remaining, the first being its second-to-last home game at 5 p.m. today against Kea‘au HS (2-6). The Vikings will play away at Kealakehe one week later, then will return home that Friday (Oct. 13) for their final regular-season home game.
The BIIF DI semi finals are slated for Oct. 26 at each high seed. With KSH at No. 1 and Hilo all-but-guaranteed to close out the season at No. 2, both teams will most likely host their semifinal games.
The current DI playoff picture is No. 4 Kea‘au at KSH and No. 3 Waiakea (4-5) at Hilo.
Though the Vikings are 2-0 against Waiakea this season, WHS kept relatively close during both matches and also nearly took KSH to a fifth set last week.
Ka‘u 3 – Konawaena 0
Konawaena girls volleyball lost to Ka‘u in straight sets Monday in Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium — 25-21, 25-22 and 25-10.
The loss marked the Wildcats’ first of the year, who also dropped to No. 3 in the BIIF DII standings at 6-1.
The Trojans remained atop DII, now at 10-0.
Konawaena will seek redemption against Honoka‘a at 5 p.m. tonight at Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium.
Ka‘u will enjoy the week off before returning to the floor against Ka Umeke at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 for its final home game. Two days later, the Trojans will look to close out a perfect season with a road match at Honoka‘a HS.
HPA 3 – Honoka‘a 0
Hawaii Prep girls volleyball handled Honoka‘a in straight sets Monday on the road — 25-10, 25-20 and 25-12. W
ith the win, Ka Makani moved to 9-1 and No. 2 in BIIF DII (as of Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 3).
The Dragons fell to a .500 record of 4-4 and sit in the No. 7 spot in the conference.
HPA’s Margot Lewis finished with nine kills, while Elaina Head and Brooke Samura led Ka Makani’s serving with five aces apiece.
HPA will next host Kohala at 5 p.m. Thursday in Castle Gym.
Honoka‘a will travel to play Konawaena at 5 p.m. tonight in Kealakekua.
JV Scores
Ka‘u 2 – Konawaena 1 (21-25, 25-23, 16-14)
Hilo 2 – KSH 0 (25-21, 25-20)