Kalaheo aces D-II challenge

Kalaheo’s strength behind the service line provided the finishing touch.

The Mustangs served up 18 aces in a 26-24, 22-25, 25-20, 25-17 win over Kailua in Friday’s OIA Division II championship match at McKinley.

Riley Lynch’s fourth and final ace on match point helped Kalaheo (9-4) win its second OIA D-II title, the last coming in 2006. All four of the Mustangs’ losses came to Division I teams during league play.

"That’s one of our team’s strengths and we work on that in practice a lot," Lynch said of serving.

Syenna Masaki led Kalaheo with 11 kills and Siani Yamaguchi and Alex Jacobsen added eight each. Jacobsen also had seven blocks.

RaeLynn Leong led Kailua (6-8) with 20 kills and Amber Tai had 10 kills and four blocks.

Both teams and Radford have qualified for the D-II state championships that start Nov. 5 at Kaimuki and McKinley.

"It’s really exciting and fun," Lynch said.

Taylor Bitanga served back-to-back aces to help Kalaheo open an 18-14 lead in Set 4. The Surfriders got no closer than three points the rest of the way. Lynch had two kills in the final stretch.