Seeding really doesn’t matter to Hawaii Baptist.

Isaac Liva and Caleb Fisher combined for 27 kills and Hawaii Baptist thumped Kailua 25-12, 25-13, 25-12 in the first round of the New City Nissan Boys Volleyball State Championships on Thursday at Farrrington.

The Eagles have won each of the past three Division II state championships and won their 10th state game in a row. This is the first time they have played the first round without the top seed. Not that you could tell by their performance.

"It was a good first match for us," Hawaii Baptist coach Teoni Obrey said. "We have a really inexperienced group in terms of states and we really don’t want to bring any attention to any of that (seeding) stuff, we just want to take care of our side of the net."

Hawaii Baptist entered the tournament unseeded because it failed to win the ILH. Hawaii Baptist lost that title to Punahou II, which is ineligible for states. The baby Buffanblu beat them twice to account for their only league losses.

The Eagles drew the OIA champion in the first round and had not met the OIA champion in the tournament since 2009, when they beat Moanalua in the semifinals. The OIA’s best was no match on Thursday night.

"We kind of care about how we got seeded, we don’t think we got seeded the right way," said Hawaii Baptist senior Jordan Kauwe, who contributed four kills. "But we take it as a challenge like we have to prove something. We still get nervous before the big stage like this, we just have to channel it the right way."

Hawaii Baptist proved it will not go quietly. The Eagles take on Honokaa in Friday’s semifinals at Farrington. Kailua plays Kapaa in the consolation bracket.

The Surfriders hung around early in each set before the Eagles went on a serving run that they couldn’t contend with. HBA closed out the first set with a 10-3 run and the second set with a 12-3 run.

Kailua came back from two down to beat Aiea for the OIA championship, and started the third like it could do it again. The score was tied at 6-all but BJ. Hosaka went on a seven-point serving run with three aces, and Fisher followed with a six-point run with two aces. Hawaii Baptist had nine service aces in all.

"(The draw) was hard luck but we have faced so much adversity this season, this was just another thing," Kailua coach Cheriesse Shiroma said. "It was unfortunate but even if it we didn’t challenge them we would have had to play them somewhere along the line anyway."

Hosaka had 36 assists and three aces for Hawaii Baptist. Liva had 14 kills and two aces and Fisher put down 13 and 3.

HONOKAA 3, NO. 1 KAPAA 0

Chance Salva had 17 kills and Makana Lee dished out 40 assists as the Dragons beat the Warriors 25-20, 25-23, 26-24.

Kristopher Astrero led the Warriors with 12 kills, two aces and a block, and Kanai Thronas-Kahoonei had 32 assists.

Shyrome Batin added nine kills and two blocks for Honokaa, and Cjay Carvalho dropped seven kills.

NO. 3 KA‘U 3, AIEA 2

Cameron Enriques led all attackers with 22 kills as the third-seeded Trojans rallied to beat Na Alii 16-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-5. Ka‘u had 11 service aces.

Perritte Togafau led Aiea with 14 kills.

NO. 2 SEABURY HALL 3, HANALANI 0

Seven service aces and 12 blocks powered the MIL-Champion Spartans in a sweep over the Royals, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17. Blake Rizzo had match-highs in kills (17) and blocks (seven).