By KEVIN JAKAHI By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer No surprise against another tough team in Hilo, Hawaii Preparatory Academy had to work extra hard to get its first win, a five-set marathon thriller fueled by the excellent hitting
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
No surprise against another tough team in Hilo, Hawaii Preparatory Academy had to work extra hard to get its first win, a five-set marathon thriller fueled by the excellent hitting work of Jevin Ching.
The 6-foot-3 junior outside hitter hit smart, found holes and finished with 29 kills to lift HPA over the Vikings 16-25, 25-19, 24-26, 25-21, 15-7 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation volleyball match Wednesday at Hilo Armory.
The Division II Ka Makani (1-2) earlier lost in four sets to Waiakea and five sets to Kohala, the defending BIIF Division I and II champions, respectively.
Tyler Van Kirk, another tall presence at 6-3, added 14 kills. No one else landed in double-digit kills for last season’s Divison II runner-up. However, it wasn’t offense that made the biggest difference in the fifth set. It was the setting by junior Zeke Chong, at 5-6, the shortest member of the team.
After a pair of bad sets led to back-to-back points for Hilo and a 3-2 lead, Chong started to give his hitters clean swings, especially during a closing seven-point run, which ended on an ace off a defender by Keanu Yamamoto.
“It was back and forth and we made it hard on ourselves,” HPA coach Sharon Peterson said. “In that last game, we did more things that enabled us to make it easier on ourselves. We were more in control and focused. When we keep our focus and control we play well.
“Zeke is a good spunky player. Jevin started slowly, but he smoothed out. He was not only hitting and finding spots on the floor, but he hit off the block as well.”
Ching got only three kills in the first set. But he was just getting warmed up. He followed with nine kills in the second and third sets, six in the fourth and had two in the fifth.
The Tandal brothers — senior Makana and junior Makoa — blasted 17 kills each and Kennison Rowe had 15 to lead Division I Hilo (1-1), which was far more efficient with 26 unforced (hitting or serving) errors. HPA had 38 giveaway points.
However, the Viks made a couple of crucial miscues in the final set, especially down the stretch. They had a hitting error that gave HPA an 11-7 lead, and a wayward bump-over for another hitting error that increased the cushion to 14-7.
Ching changed the direction of the match in the fourth set. Hilo inch-wormed ahead 9-8 on a kill by Makoa. Then HPA’s hot hitter got the serve back, and Van Kirk reeled off six straight points from the service line.
During that run, Ching had two kills and also pounded set point to force the final set, one where all the momentum eventually swung the visiting team’s way after an exhausting back-and-forth battle.
Playoff format
All of the Division I teams — Waiakea, Kamehameha, Hilo, Kealakehe and Keaau — are in the Blue division. The top four advance to the BIIF Tournament semifinals, which will be held April 27 at Konawena High. The Division I championship will be held the next day.
For Division II, it’s a 10-team playoff with No. 10 at No. 7, and No. 9 vs. No. 8 in the first round on April 24 at the higher seed’s site. In the second round, it’s No. 10-7 winner at No. 1, and No. 9-8 winner at No. 2, and No. 5 at No. 4, and No. 6 at No. 3 on April 25. The BIIF Tournament semifinals and championship will also be held at Ellison Onizuka Gym.
The league is still awaiting word from the Hawaii High School Athletic Association if it will receive two or three berths to the Division II state tournament. Last season, the BIIF had two representatives, Kohala and Hawaii Prep. The previous five seasons three BIIF teams qualified.
