‘Iolani’s title defense still alive after sweep

The ‘Iolani Raiders are on a mission.

The defending state champions were relentless at serve, in the back row and on the attack in a 25-14, 25-10, 25-11 sweep of Maui Interscholastic League champion Kamehameha-Maui on Thursday night at Moanalua gym.

‘Iolani’s lone senior, Saige Ka‘aha‘aina-Torres, led the way with 21 kills and three aces and added seven digs. She also added three blocks for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up.

“We kind of had to get settled in, especially with our younger girls playing in a different gym,” Ka‘aha‘aina-Torres said. “It came down to passing, and it was good.”

“ ‘Iolani is no surprise. They’re a solid team all around, defensively and offensively,” said KS-Maui coach Alex Akana, a former Kamehameha standout.

‘Iolani (8-7), will meet Kahuku in the Division I semifinal round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championships today. The Raiders swept Waianae on Monday to reach the quarterfinals.

High-leaping Kimiani Fernandez-Roy sparked KS-Maui with four kills and three blocks. Talia Leauanae had a team-high six kills and eight digs. Allah Ayau dished 12 assists and Alea Cervantes added seven digs.

KS-Maui (14-2), featuring Fernandez-Roy in the middle, kept it relatively close early. Instead of challenging Roy, the daughter of former UH Rainbow Wahine player Cecelia Goods, the Raiders worked around her.

“We knew 4 is very active and athletic,” Raiders coach Kainoa Obrey said of the team’s video study. “We wanted to pay attention to her and we saw their tendencies.”

Once the Raiders found their groove, there was little the Warriors could do. Setter Kristen McDaniel (33 assists) fed Ka‘aha‘aina-Torres a regular diet, and also sent the ball to Elena Oglivie (eight kills, two aces) and middle Sasha Petticord (seven kills, one block).

Cameryn Ann Nagaji (11 digs) and Naya Dong (10) led the back-row effort.

With the score 6-5, ‘Iolani took control of the opening set during a 12-4 run.

The Warriors had eight hitting errors in the first game and six more in the second game.

The third set was much closer. KS-Maui had a 5-2 lead after a pair of kills and a block by Fernandez-Roy. With Leauanae, Logan Spencer and Cervantes getting involved, the Warriors had an 11-8 lead.

That’s when the Raiders scored on an Oglivie kill, and the sophomore then went to the back line and delivered her team to 16 points in a row to end the match.

KS-Maui finished with 27 hitting errors, swinging much better in the final set.

“We kind of did expect that, especially against ‘Iolani,” Akana said. “We made a lot of errors.”

Kahuku 3, Moanalua 2

Lauolive Tonga had two of her 13 kills during the final stretch as the unseeded Red Raiders upset No. 2 Na Menehune 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11 at Moanalua.

Kahuku (12-5) will meet ILH runner-up ‘Iolani in the semifinal round today, 5 p.m., at McKinley.

“This is the most consistent they’ve played. They did everything together,” coach Mounia Tachibana said. “We trusted each other.”

Kapolei 3, Waiakea 1

Michelyn Pililaau buried 16 kills and Amryl Paris added 13 as the Hurricanes beat the Warriors 25-17, 25-13, 20-25, 25-13.

Kapolei outblocked Waiakea 9-2 with Pililaau in on five of them.

Alexis Mareko added 10 kills for the Hurricanes.

Kayla Kahauolopua led Waiakea with 13 kills on 41 attempts.

Kamehameha 3, Mililani 0

Kili Robins put down 11 kills and Keonilei Akana added seven as the Warriors swept the Trojans 25-20, 25-17, 28-26.

Kamehameha’s Lexis Akeo dished out 26 assists and Piikea Lopes kept Mililani off balance with eight assists in the one set she played.

Falanika Danielson led Mililani, which hit .068 to Kamehameha’s .135, with nine kills and Starr Sergent collected eight.

Kapolei meets Kamehameha today.