Kailua moves on with a sweep of Honokaa

Raelynn Leong, Delcie Williams and Jasmyn Keohohina-Malina combined for 35 kills as Kailua swept Honokaa 25-16, 25-13, 25-19 on Wednesday night at Kaimuki High School gym in the opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division II State Championships.

Leong led Kailua (7-8) with 13 kills and an ace. Williams, who also stars in basketball, had 11 kills (.562) and two aces, and Keohohina-Malina, a 6-foot-1 junior, added 11 kills and a block.

Amber Tai, a sophomore middle, had eight kills and eight of her team’s 17 aces. As far as Tai is concerned, the Surfriders broke a long streak on Wednesday.

"I think we’re all excited. It’s been awhile since our school has been this far into it," she said. "Someone told me we haven’t won a match at states since 1981."

Leong also had 10 digs to lead the back row. Sydney Hao (seven digs) and Williams (six) also played key roles in their passing game.

The Surfriders came into the match with the memory of a loss to Kalaheo in the OIA D-II final still fresh.

"That was a very difficult team to play. They have a non-conventional offense," Kailua coach Chris Spalding said. "We eliminated a lot of the errors we had against Kalaheo, and everybody got to play."

Senior setter Marcie Garcia distributed the ball evenly and finished with 38 assists, two kills and an ace. Dena Albino added four aces as Kailua dominated at serve.

Honokaa (9-7), the third-place team from the BIIF, got 10 kills, three blocks and an ace from senior Monica Muskat. Delsey Vaimauga added three kills and setter Ashlynn Kaiamakini had 10 assists and two of her team’s four aces. Randy Iona and Vaimauga sparked the back row with six digs each.

Kailua hit .315 against the Dragons. In addition to 17 aces, the Surfriders had 10 service errors and just two blocks.

Honokaa hit .170. The Dragons didn’t have a service error and finished with three blocks.

Kailua meets perennial D-II powerhouse Seabury Hall Thursday night at Kaimuki. The Spartans are ranked No. 8 in the Star-Advertiser Top 10.

"The road gets tougher. Their girls are as tall as I am," said the 6-foot Spalding.

The Surfriders’ versatility is a plus.

"Coach told us to learn every position," Tai added.

Roughly half of Kailua’s squad plays club volleyball in the offseason, she said.

In other first round matches on Wednesday:

LA PIETRA 3, HANA 0

Savana Breene had a match-high 13 kills and Peri Green added 11 to lead the Panthers to a 25-13, 25-23, 25-17 sweep of the Dragons.

Setter Carmen Sharkey tallied 30 assists and Milan Gonzalez added 13 digs for La Pietra (10-6), which will play top-seeded Konawaena on Thursday at McKinley.

Konawaena is ranked No. 4 in the state in the latest Star-Advertiser top 10.

Jaymalee Ho‘opai led Hana (9-4) with nine kills and Precious Helekai had 23 assists and seven digs.

ST. FRANCIS 3, KAUAI 0

Malia Luis-Mateo had a game-high 13 kills, eight digs and two assists to lead the Saints to a 25-17, 25-17, 25-11 sweep of the Red Raiders.

St. Francis (11-3) advances to play Kalaheo on Thursday at McKinley.

Tahra Kaui led Kauai (11-3) with a match-high 16 digs.

HAWAII PREP 3, RADFORD 2

Gabbie Ewing put down her 26th and final kill on match point to give Ka Makani a 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14 win over the Rams.

Ka Makani advances to play Hawaii Baptist on Thursday at Kaimuki.