Marathons dominated the day when crosstown rivals Hilo and Waiakea tangled in a BIIF volleyball showdown, which showed both are fairly evenly matched.
The Warriors surged past the Vikings 27-25, 18-25, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14 in a Red bracket and Division I match on Saturday at the Waiakea gym.
“It was a fight and Hilo played an amazing game,” Waiakea coach Ashley Hanohano said. “We have a lot to work on, and even when something was going well I felt something was missing.
“But what I did enjoy was the girls’ mental toughness. In the pressure situations, they didn’t hold back and went down fighting.”
The day felt extra long because Waiakea’s junior varsity defeated Hilo 32-30, 25-17 in an earlier time-consuming contest.
Waiakea’s Kryssie Okinaka blasted consecutive kills through Hilo’s block to wrap up the afternoon, and the Vikings (1-1) get little time to rest until their next big challenge.
The Vikings host Konawaena, the defending two-time BIIF Division II champion, at 7:30 p.m. Monday at their gym.
In Waiakea’s preseason tournament, Hilo lost to the Warriors (3-0) but toppled them in the championship.
On Saturday, the Viks led 2-1 but couldn’t close out the last two games. At times, Hilo was its own worst enemy with unforced errors.
“It was a long game, but most of the time it was exciting,” Hilo coach Drew Fernandez said. “We gave away easy points. When the game is tight, we get worked up with simple things, a missed serve or watching a ball drop to the floor.
“We knew anything could happen because in the preseason we played them strong. We knew it could be anybody’s game. Everyone did well and had their moments.”
At least, the Vikings have settled on a lineup and are building a solid team chemistry. However, Fernandez doesn’t like to write his six starters in pen. He prefers using pencil because practice is always a casting call.
“I told the girl every practice is different,” he said. “Somebody could shine that week, and then we’ll go from there.”
The Viks feature three returning starters in setter Kailee Kurokawa and outside hitters Kawai Ua and Alexis Paglinawan, all juniors.
“Kailee is doing well, calling out plays, and she’s able to work with our hitters really well,” Fernandez said. “She’s a force in the front row as a blocker as well. Kawai and Alexis have room for growth, but I like that they’re starting to be more all-around players instead of sticking to one thing.”
At middle blocker, Hilo has a nice package of youth and height with 6-foot-3 sophomore Laurie McGrath and 6-0 freshman Mahala Kaapuni.
“They bring great height to the team,” Fernandez said. “Even though they’re young, they play well for that age.”
Fernandez liked how sophomore opposite Kaina Leao played tough at the net and pounded balls, and the effort from junior libero Alyah Cortez.
“Kaina brings a right-side block, and she has heavy hands,” he said. “Cortez is doing good over there. She’s moving her feet and covering ground. The main thing we need is serve and pass, and for the most part she’s doing that well.”
Konawaena is not the same time as the one that won HHSAA Division II state titles in 2013 and ’14. The Wildcats not only lost Chanelle Molina, but most of their height with McKenna Ventura and Ihi Victor.
Kamehameha, the BIIF Division I runner-up, also suffered a huge loss with setter/hitter Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker, who’s at Cal State Northridge or CSUN as the school prefers.
Hilo has sat home from states the last two years, and gave Waiakea hard rubs before falling in Saturday’s marathon.
The Vikings last won the BIIF championship in 2001. However, they did capture the BIIF Division II title from 2007 to ’09.
“I like that the team is young at heart, but I need them stop step up when the time comes,” Fernandez said. “Our goal is one game at a time. But everybody’s goal is BIIFs and states.”
Waiakea is the defending BIIF champion and has been to states the last two years. But Hanohano thinks it’ll be a dogfight until the end.
“I feel like it’ll be a tight race to the finish line,” she said. “At this point, it’s whoever wants it more will win. It’s just too even across the board.”
