Kahuku held off Hilo’s comeback in the third set to complete a sweep of the Vikings in the opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAADivision I Girls Volleyball State Championships on Tuesday.
The Red Raiders’ reward is a meeting with top-seeded Kamehameha in a quarterfinal match today at Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Koiai Gym in Keaau.
Adora Anae’s 19 kills led Kahuku to the 25-14, 25-16, 26-24 win over Hilo to set up a rematch of last year’s semifinal duel between the Red Raiders and Warriors.
"I think we showed we can battle,"Kahuku coach Tehani Fiatoa said. "Hilo was close a couple of times and we showed we need to be able to fight and play together."
Anae hit .441 while taking a match-high 34 swings, but Fiatoa was pleased with the production throughout the Red Raiders lineup, with setter Talia Brown finishing with 36 assists.
Talia Afalava put down nine kills and Brittany Waite was in on four blocks.
"Our other hitters are pulling their load very well," Fiatoa said. "Talia is just one that is ready to go to battle for our team and Ithink we’re in good hands with Talia as the setter."
Kahuku’s previous state tournament meeting with Kamehameha ended with the Warriors edging the Red Raiders 26-24 in the fourth set to earn a spot in the title match. Kamehameha rolled through the ILH season to earn the top seed in this year’s bracket.
"We just need to battle and stay together as a team," Fiatoa said of today’s rematch.
"They’ve got a good team. We’ve seen them, how they can play and fight. … We need to just take care of what we do best."
Kahuku hit .348 in the first set against Hilo, which hit for a negative percentage in the first two sets and finished at .000 for the match.
The Vikings threatened to extend the match in the third set when they fought off four match points to catch the Red Raiders at 24-24.
Fiatoa called timeout, telling her team, "We just need to pass the ball, and we need to just kill the momentum that Hilo got, and serve receive."
Kahuku won the next point on a kill by Mariah Berard-Kamakeeaina, and Sinamoni Tonga’s kill on match point sent the Red Raiders into the quarterfinals.
Evalani Toledo led the Vikings with 10 kills and Hilo fell into the consolation bracket and will face Leilehua today.
Moanalua 3, Leilehua 0
Na Menehune rolled past the Mules 25-13, 25-7, 25-11 at Kamehameha-Hawaii. Moanalua next faces fourth seed Kamehameha-Maui today at 5 p.m.
Siloerolia Gaogao had a match-high 12 kills in 21 attempts (.476) for Moanalua.
Aiea 3, King Kekaulike 0
Megan Maafala-Maiava put down 12 kills and Na Alii advanced to face OIARed champion and second-seeded Mililani today with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-10 win over King Kekaulike at Keaau High School. Freshman Destyni Grace distributed 27 assists for Aiea and Lole Kalani-Liulama finished with 13 digs.
Treyanna-Lee Freitas led King Kekaulike with a match-high 14 kills.
Punahou 3, Farrington 0
The two-time defending champion Buffanblu hit .394 as a team, led by McKenna Rose Granato’s 11 kills in Punahou’s 25-9, 25-9, 25-14 victory over the Governors.
Remo Gaogao added nine kills and Kiani Tuileta finished with 30 assists as Punahou moved on to face third seed Kamehameha-Hawaii at 7 p.m. at Kea’au.
DIVISIONII
Waimea 3, Pahoa 0
Mariyah Oliver’s 14 kills led the Menehunes to a 25-15, 25-12, 25-18 sweep of the Daggers. Lei Alejandro added 10 kills and two aces and Bailey San Augustin had 23 assists for Waimea.
Waimea will face OIAWhite champion and fourth-seeded Radford today at 7 p.m. at McKinley.
Saint Francis 3, Kalaheo 1
The two-time defending champion Saints withstood a challenge from the Mustangs and advanced with a 25-19, 17-25, 25-16, 25-18 win at Kaimuki.
Saint Francis faces second-seeded Seabury Hall today at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s five-set Division IIfinal.
Konawaena 3, Hana 0
The Wildcats moved on to a quarterfinal matchup with top-seeded University with a 25-17, 25-12, 25-21 sweep of Hana.
Roosevelt 3, Hawaii Baptist 2
The Rough Riders survived a five-set match with the Eagles 25-19, 17-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11 and will play third-seeded Hawaii Prep in the quarterfinals today at 5 p.m. at Kaimuki.
