WAIAKEA 3 – KEALAKEHE 2
Waiakea High’s boys varsity volleyball team got a much-needed win, outlasting Kealakehe High to prevail after five sets on Wednesday night in Hilo.
The sets stayed tight and the lead bounced back and forth — as the Warriors took the first set 25-20, the Waveriders won the next two 25-16 and 25-20 and Waiakea bounced back to win the fourth 25-20.
The Warriors prevailed 15-9 in the fifth set to notch their second win on the season and exit a five-game skid — moving to a 2-5 record.
Waiakea will be back in action tonight for their last of three regular season matchups against KS-Hawai‘i (7-1). This season, KSH is 2-0 against Waiakea — and 6-2 in sets.
Kealakehe sank to 3-5, and will look to find some success in another trip to Hilo tonight — as the ‘Riders face the 5-1 Vikings, who swept them in their last two encounters.
If the Warriors win their next game and the ‘Riders lose theirs, Waiakea will knock Kealakehe out of the No. 3 standing in BIIF DI. Both teams are still (somewhat) comfortably in the playoff hunt, as No. 5 Kea‘au trails at 1-7.
JV score: Kealakehe wins in 3 (19-25, 25-19, 15-13).
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KA‘U 3 – HPA 1
Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s boys volleyball team won a competitive first set against Ka‘u High by a score of 25-21, but Ka Makani could not recover afterward, as the Trojans took control and won the remaining three sets — 25-18, 28-26 and 27-25.
HPA showed heart and passion through its blocking defense at the net — but Ka‘u’s strategic hitting overwhelmed Ka Makani, and set the Trojans on a roll.
With the win, Ka‘u is now tied with Pahoa (as of Thursday afternoon) in the DII standings at 7-1. The Trojans will look to stack another win and secure their standing at their next match — against the Daggers at 6 p.m. Monday in Pahoa town.
If Ka‘u can snag the No. 2 seed in the BIIF DII playoffs, it would receive byes for the first two rounds and enter in the semifinals at home. The Trojans’ final regular season outing will be Wednesday at home against Christian Liberty Academy (1-5).
HPA (3-4) fell below .500, and will try to get back on track against Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo PCS at 6 p.m. tonight in Castle Gym. Ka Makani will round off its season with games on Tuesday and Thursday against Kohala High (5-2) and Honoka‘a High (3-4), respectively.
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PAHOA 3 – KA ‘UMEKE 0
Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo PCS’ boys volleyball team fell in straight sets — 25-11, 25-11 and 25-18 — to Pahoa High on Tuesday night in Keaukaha.
Pahoa moved to 7-1 and, after a Thursday night game against Kohala (results will be reported soon), will close out its season with a marquee matchup against Ka‘u on Monday at home.
Ka ‘Umeke dipped to 1-5, but still has four outings left on its regular season slate — starting with a road test at HPA tonight, then on to another away game at Christian Liberty the next day.
Ka ‘Umeke’s final home game will be Tuesday (April 16) against undefeated Konawaena High (8-0). The team will end its season on April 20 in Waimea for a rivalry bout against Kanu ‘o ka ‘Aina Charter (1-7).