Monday volleyball with state championship hopes on the line can be a strange thing.
The ‘Iolani Raiders didn’t let it be a thing. The Raiders withstood some near-miraculous defense by Na Menehune of Moanalua for a 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 sweep on Monday night before a festive crowd of about 500 at ‘Iolani’s gym.
The ILH runner-up Raiders (13-4) will have two days off before facing Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Hilo on Thursday, 5 p.m., at McKinley in the quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division I State Championships.
“The break is good. It’ll give us a chance to regroup,” senior setter Ana Oglivie (41 assists) said.
Freshman outside hitter Elena Oglivie (19 kills) and junior Saige Kaahaaina-Torres (17 kills) powered ‘Iolani’s attack. Middles Halia Hogan (six kills, one block) and Sasha Petticord (five kills, three blocks) were integral to the Raiders’ consistency.
“Gotta give it up to our hitters and diggers. Moanalua, they dig very well, so for everybody to stay in the play for a long time, repeatedly hitting, I’m really proud of our team,” said Ana Oglivie, the distributor.
Moanalua (11-4), the fourth-place team from the OIA, did all it could to stay alive in a match full of long rallies.
“Moanalua’s tough. We know Coach Alan (Cabanting) and his staff do a good job,” ‘Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey said. “Every match is a new experience with a young team. In the middle of Game 3, it showed. We were fortunate.”
The Raiders overcame a sometimes spectacular Moanalua back-row effort led by junior libero Hula Crisostomo.
“Their libero is ridiculously good,” Obrey said.
With a young team — only five seniors — Cabanting was in good spirits despite the loss.
“Their big players started to play big,” he said. “But I’m absolutely happy with the youth we have. This experience makes us a better team. We’ll learn to become the team that will force mistakes by the other team.”
Senior Keila Williams (10 kills, four blocks) and junior Emily Dulaney (10 kills) led Moanalua’s attack. Versatile Rainbeau Oliveira (four kills), Delylah Sanreivi (four kills) and Jeslyn Spencer (two kills, seven blocks) also chipped in. Emree Sato had 21 assists.
The home team was in control most of the way. Moanalua had a 2-1 lead in the opening set and didn’t lead again until the second game at 4-3.
‘Iolani was ahead 9-7 in the first set when an ace by Elena Oglivie and a block by Hogan helped spark a 10-1 run. Moanalua rallied and was within 19-15 after a block by Spencer and Williams. Elena Oglivie then caught fire with five of her 10 kills in the set to finish the game off.
The second set was tied at 7 when ‘Iolani went on a 7-0 run with Elena Oglivie at serve. The Raiders opened the lead to nine points as Kaahaaina-Torres slammed seven kills in the game.
Na Menehune played their best volleyball in the third set, opening a 10-5 lead after consecutive aces by Dulaney. The Raiders charged back with a 9-4 run to take the lead. Moanalua got blocks from Lamardia Utopo and Spencer, and after a kill by Oliveira, Na Menehune led 16-14. They just couldn’t pull away.
Kaahaaina-Torres’ second ace of the set gave ‘Iolani a 19-18 lead. After two more kills by Elena Oglivie, Kaahaaina-Torres pounded her final kill, from the back row, and the Raiders got blocks from Petticord and Kristen McDaniel. Kaahaaina-Torres’ final ace ended the match.
The first round was played on a Monday to accommodate traveling teams from the neighbor islands.
Kapolei 3, Waiakea 2
The Hurricanes scored the final six points in the fifth set after trailing 11-9 to pull out a 25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 24-26, 15-11 win over the host Warriors.
Anela Pakaki-Pias hit .354 with a match-high 23 kills and 17 digs and Tiffany Mook had 40 digs for Kapolei (11-2), which advances to play No. 2 seed Kamehameha on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Moanalua.
Lindsey Maikui had 22 kills and 15 digs and Jordyn Hayashi added 31 digs for Waiakea (15-3).
Farrington 3, Kamehameha-Maui 0
Molimau Heimuli, Dayna Kahanu and Violet Rae Williams all had 11 kills apiece as the Govs spread it around in a 28-26, 25-19, 25-23 sweep of the host Warriors.
Chasity Wong had a match-high 37 assists for Farrington (13-3), which advances to play No. 1 seed Kahuku on Thursday at 7 p.m. at McKinley.
Kylee Yamashita and Hoala Alapai had 11 kills each to pace KS-Maui (10-5).
Kalaheo 3, Mililani 2
Syenna Masaki had 25 kills, 19 assists and 15 digs to help the Mustangs (11-5) outlast the Trojans (12-2), 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 17-15.
Mililani led 15-14 in the fifth set, but a service error followed by two attack errors sealed Kalaheo’s victory.
Ashley Pawlak had 20 kills and Hope Carter added 10 kills and 50 assists to lead the Trojans. Samantha Pollard added 11 kills and Riley Lynch chipped in 20 assists and 16 digs for the Mustangs, who play King Kekaulike at 5 p.m. Thursday at Moanalua.
