BIIF volleyball: Honokaa back in state hunt behind Muskat

KEAAU — There Monica Muskat stood in the middle of Old Mill Fieldhouse on Friday night, looking right where she’s belonged all along for Honokaa.

KEAAU — There Monica Muskat stood in the middle of Old Mill Fieldhouse on Friday night, looking right where she’s belonged all along for Honokaa.

Her 14-kill, four-block, three-ace performance in a sweep against East-Pac reminded coach Mike Fernandez of a conversation he had with Muskat in the preseason. Fernandez wanted to use his most powerful arm at outside hitter, but Muskat had other ideas.

“She told me, “No, I want to go back to the middle,”’ Fernandez said.

He’s glad she did. Muskat’s presence at middle blocker is a big reason why Honokaa (7-5) has won five consecutive matches, moving up to third place as it prepares for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II volleyball playoffs.

“I did it because it was best for the team,” the 5-foot-10 senior said, “but I missed the middle. I missed blocking and jumping.”

The Dragons (7-5) haven’t been to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II tournament since 2010, a team that included Monica’s sister, Jessica. Fernandez stepped away for two years, but Honokaa is back in the hunt in his second season back at the helm.

“This is the best team I’ve played on,” Muskat said. “The goal is to make it to states.”

The Dragons got the BIIF heavyweights out of the way early on in the regular season, including a five-set loss to Hawaii Prep in Waimea. Fernandez said the turning point came in a five-set victory at Ka’u and a sweep of Pahoa at home. Those two teams figure to be Honokaa’s prime contenders for one of the three available state spots in Division II.

“That’s when we really saw what we had,” Muskat said.

She’s joined by four other seniors in the starting lineup, including outside hitters Ashlynn Kaiamakini and Randy Iona. The Dragons received a big boost when setter Tehane Reynolds transferred from Hawaii Prep.

“I was really worried about setter,” Fernandez said. “Then Tehane walked in and pretty much answered my prayers on that one.”

Reynolds (eight kills, four aces in the 25-10, 25-10, 25-9 victory against East-Pac) not only fills a void at setter, but she provides much-needed hitting firepower while Muskat is on the back line.

“She’s been a big help,” Muskat said. “I played with her in (Parks and Recreation) when when I was younger, so we really know each other.”

Honokaa closes out the regular season with road matches against Kohala on Friday and Waiakea on Oct. 15, and then it’s on course to host a first-round playoff game Oct. 21. With a win, it would have two chances to reach states once BIIFs moves to Konawaena High. The semifinals are Oct. 23 and the championship and third-place game are Oct. 25.

Hilo survives: The Vikings went on the road to outlast Kealakehe in a three-hour marathon Saturday, 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 11-25, 17-15.

While Hilo (10-1) stayed on track for the second seed in the Division I playoffs, the Waveriders fell to 9-3, setting up an interesting visit to Waiakea (8-3) on Wednesday night in a match that has significant postseason implications.

The four teams for the playoffs are set, but Goal No. 1 during the regular season is to avoid the fourth seed — and a likely matchup against four-time champion Kamehameha (12-0) in the semifinals.

The winner Wednesday likely gets the Vikings in the semis with a state berth on the line. Hilo and Waiakea still have to play Oct. 13.

Big week, big one ahead for Konawaena: The Wildcats all but wrapped an automatic berth to the Division II state tournament by sweeping Hawaii Prep on Wednesday in Waimea, and then they remained unbeaten Friday, holding off Waiakea, 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 17-25, 15-13.

Konawaena (11-0) can reach states with a win in any of its three remaining regular-season games — starting Tuesday against the Vikings at Hilo Armory.