Waianae heading to states

Cherish Borge had 11 kills and Jasmine Fonoti added 10 as Waianae toppled Castle 25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23 on Thursday night in the OIA Division I girls volleyball quarterfinals at Kapolei gym.

Waianae (9-2), playing its second match in as many nights, advanced to the semifinals and will meet Kapolei on Monday at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium. Kamilla Marinas tallied seven kills and setter Jorene Ulu added three kills and two aces along with 37 assists and the Seariders earned a state tournament berth.

“It’s about staying consistent and having confidence no matter who you’re playing,” Seariders coach Wilhelm Wagner said. “Castle is normally the team that pushes us out.”

The Knights were the second-place team in the East and had a first-round bye. Waianae had ousted Roosevelt on Wednesday. Castle (10-2) moves into the consolation bracket and needs a win on Monday to qualify for the state tournament.

On a humid night on the Leeward Coast, Waianae got just enough of a boost off the bench to stave off Castle’s comeback attempt. Senior Alexus Kapihe came off the bench for seven kills in the third set, and though Waianae lost the game, her effectiveness allowed Wagner to give some of his starters some valuable rest.

In the fourth set, sophomore Chenille Wagner-Chun came off the bench and provided all three of her aces to open the lead to 9-6. Heipua Taufua’a’s back-row kill gave Castle a 20-19 lead, but with the score tied at 22, Castle was whistled for a net violation and Marinas delivered a kill to help put the match away for the Seariders.

“It was just finding that right mixture at the right moment,” Wagner added. “We’ve been known for having slow starts.”

Tiara Hookano paced Castle with 11 kills and added two aces. Tihani Ehia added 10 kills and three aces. Savannah Johnson added six kills and three blocks.

Castle was unbeaten at 8-0 just two weeks ago before losing to Moanalua.

“The girls came out flat. I told them the fundamentals are going to win the game. We have to talk, execute, make our serves,” Knights coach Grant Tolentino said. “We just fell short of playing our basics.”

Alexis Kepa had 17 assists and one kill, and Lindsey Adolpho tallied 12 assists, two kills and two aces.

Kapolei 3, Kahuku 1

Michelyn Pilila‘au had 10 kills and two blocks, including a roof on aloha point, as Kapolei pulled out a 25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 26-24 home court win over Kahuku.

Kapolei (11-0), the top seed in the West, secured a state tournament berth. Tihani Guzman led the Hurricanes with 14 kills and three of her team’s 14 aces. Anela Pakaki-Pias added 13 kills. Olivia Transfiguracion dished 46 assists and had three aces.

Opposite Amryi Paris added 12 kills and an ace and Alexis Mareko tallied five kills, two aces and a block.

Kahuku will meet Castle on Monday in an elimination game. The winner will secure a state tourney berth.

Moanalua and Mililani were the other OIA winners on Thursday, giving the West three of the final four spots.