Isaiah Agiga wasn’t sure his Waianae volleyball team would make it to the state tournament since the squad is a mix of players from various sports.
Now that his Seariders are in the New City Nissan/ HHSAA State Volleyball Championships, Agiga made sure they wouldn’t lose in it.
Agiga had 14 kills and five blocks to help Waianae rally past Mililani 22-25, 25-22, 28-30, 25-19, 15-11 in Friday’s Division I first round at Moanalua.
"We didn’t think we could go this far," said Agiga, one of two football players on the team that also has soccer players. "We’re a team that got thrown into a bunch, all different sports. We’re just having fun."
The Seariders (13-1) will face top-seeded Punahou (15-0) in Saturday’s 5 p.m. quarterfinal at Moanalua. Nayton Kuresa had 15 kills, Akoni Faumuina added 14 kills and Jahren Muliagatele had 56 assists for Waianae.
Sila Fuiava had 18 kills and Kingston Nishimura had 14 kills for the Trojans (10-4). Zavier Lieb had 50 assists.
"Just being more consistent, not falling down and working as a team," Faumuina said of his team’s rally.
Waianae led 10-4 in Set 5, but Mililani rallied to get within 11-9. Landon Young had back-to-back kills to extend Waianae’s lead to 13-9. Mililani cut the deficit to 14-11, but a block by Kuresa and Agiga ended the match. The Seariders had four blocks in the final set.
"Coach said to keep an eye on the ball and press, close the block," Agiga said.
Waianae trailed 17-16 in Set 4, then used a 9-2 run to finish it off. Agiga had three kills and two blocks during the run and the Seariders carried the momentum into Set 5.
"The confidence from the last game that we just won carried over," Faumuina said. "We kept going and going with it and didn’t stop the fight."
Kalaheo 3, Lahainaluna 1
Nai‘a Singlehurst racked up a match-high 25 kills to help the Mustangs hold off the Lunas 25-16, 25-21, 24-26, 27-25 at Keaau’s Koai Gym Friday evening.
Kainoa Peterson aided the Mustangs (11-4) with 14 kills, while teammate Kupaa Harrison racked up 42 assists. Tomas Drebelbis and Makoa Filikitonga led Lahainaluna (10-5) with 12 and 11 kills and combined for five service aces and 24 digs in defeat.
KAMEHAMEHA 3, WAIPAHU 0
Kahiau Machado had 11 kills to lead the Warriors (12-3) to a 25-11, 25-14, 25-19 win over the Marauders.
Andrew Simanu had 10 kills for the Marauders (10-5).
HILO 3, KAHUKU 0
Bradley Comilla had 17 kills and Justice Lord 10 to lead the Vikings (13-4) to a 25-23, 25-18, 25-20 win over the Red Raiders in a match played at Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Micha Maiava had 13 kills for Kahuku (11-5).
DIVISION I
FRIDAY
First round
Waianae def. Mililani 22-25, 25-22, 28-30, 25-19, 15-11
Kalaheo def. Lahainaluna 25-16, 25-21, 24-26, 27-25
Kamehameha def. Waipahu 25-11, 25-14, 25-19
Hilo def. Kahuku 25-23, 25-18, 25-20
SATURDAY
At Kamehameha-Hawaii
Consolation
Lahainaluna vs. Kahuku, noon
Quarterfinals
King Kekaulike vs. Hilo, 1:30 p.m.
KS-Hawaii vs. Kalaheo, 3:30 p.m.
At Moanalua
Consolation
Mililani vs. Waipahu, 3:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Punahou vs. Waianae, 5 p.m.
Moanalua vs. Kamehameha, 7 p.m.
Semifinals—May 15 at Moanalua
Championship—May 16 at Blaisdell Arena
Division II Tournament—May 14-16