Hilo works best when its undersized power hitters are chopping down giant trees on the volleyball court and the offense flows like a waterfall. ADVERTISING Hilo works best when its undersized power hitters are chopping down giant trees on the
Hilo works best when its undersized power hitters are chopping down giant trees on the volleyball court and the offense flows like a waterfall.
Pretty much every time Lexi Paglinawan and Kawai Ua take a swing they’re facing a size disadvantage against a tall block because both stand 5 feet 4 with their shoes on.
But a foe’s size doesn’t matter much for them because of their athleticism. The two Vikings have explosive takeoffs, which push their verticals and generate momentum for their hitting approach.
What matters most for Paglinawan, Ua and the rest of the Hilo hitting company is smooth ball-control — the passing and setting parts that set up the attack.
Hilo couldn’t find its ball-control early but discovered it in time to rally past Kamehameha 24-26, 23-25, 32-30, 22-25, 16-14 in a BIIF Division I showdown on Tuesday night at the Vikings Gym.
Paglinawan smashed 22 kills, Ua added 13 kills, Laurie McGrath 12 and Taina Leao nine for the Vikings (9-1), who attacked from everywhere, the left post, right, middle, and back row.
“We had no ball-control in the first two games,” Hilo coach Drew Fernandez said. “We were trying to find our defense. Defense is the game. You can’t have an offense without defense.
“Then our ball-control got better. I kept telling the girls, ‘Don’t make the setters work hard.’ We’re still trying to find that rhythm with our setters.”
Senior opposite Kailee Yoshimura knocked down 23 kills, 6-foot freshman Naniloa Spaar had 17 kills and 5-6 outside hitter Keani Akui soared for eight kills for the Warriors (10-1), who had a nonexistent middle attack.
Waiakea is now the front-runner for the BIIF regular season title, which includes the league’s first berth to the HHSAA state tournament.
On Thursday, Kamehameha (10-1) will host defending champion Waiakea (11-0) after the 6 p.m. JV match at Koai‘a Gym.
Showdown week continues on Saturday when Hilo hosts Waiakea after the 1 p.m. JV match, and Kamehameha hosts Konawaena after the 5 p.m. JV match.
Yoshimura and Spaar played tag team and hit from the left and right spots. When both were in the front row, the offense and defense worked best. When both were out, that’s when Hilo made critical scoring runs.
The Warriors don’t have a deep lineup of power hitters like Hilo. But they have two solid setters in Summer Ah Choy and Kiki Troy and a stellar back-row defense with Akui, who had 23 digs, and libero Seizen Alameda, who had 19 digs.
“Kamehameha kept getting us with their deep shots,” Fernandez said. “I commend their setters, especially Summer. It was good to see her play well. I’ve worked with her and seen her grow up.”
Not only was Kamehameha’s ball-control sharper for most of the match, but the visitors also served tougher, often the best weapon to neutralize a team’s firepower. (Free balls, from wobbly passing, are every offense’s best friend.)
After the Vikings got stuck in a 2-0 set deficit, they looked like a different team in the next three games. They passed more balls on the money to setter Kailee Kurokawa, who was able to spread the offense.
“We didn’t have rhythm in the first two sets, but then we fought hard because we wanted to win so badly,” Paglinawan said. “I try to mix my shots up. I’ve got a roll and tip, and I try to play smart.”
Kurokawa is a key because of the three setters (senior Saydee Fujioka and junior Makena Ahuna are the other two) she has the best touch and timing.
When the Viks run a 5-1 lineup, Kurokawa doesn’t hit but the offense has nice consistency. When she rotates to the front and Fujioka or Ahuna enter, Kurokawa adds to the efficiency because she hits smart.
That’s the nice thing about volleyball. It’s an equal-opportunity sport, just like baseball. Everybody gets their turn, unlike basketball where everyone passes the ball to Michael Jordan.
In the 32-30 third set thriller, Kurokawa hit smart and put down Hilo’s last four points. She finished with seven kills as a part-time attacker.
In the 25-22 fourth set, the Warriors’ strength turned into a weakness. They had 12 unforced errors, including six service miscues with five into the net.
The old coaching theory is it’s better to serve long because at least there’s a chance the ball may be in play. Hit a ball into the net, and it’s an easy free point for the opposition.
Game 5 was a fun one for the night owls who stayed late.
The Warriors started with seven unforced errors (six hitting, one serving), and the Vikings, who made none at that point, jumped to a 13-9 lead.
But it wasn’t safe. Yoshimura got clean swings and pounded down loud points for a 13-13 tie and a 14-14 deadlock.
Ua isn’t as tall as the 5-10 Yoshimura, but she hits just as hard. She hammered consecutive thunder shots and sent the Viking faithful home happy.
After the nearly three-hour marathon was over, Paglinawan realized that sometimes the best weapon isn’t serving, passing, or hitting. It’s plain and simple self-belief.
Last Saturday, Hilo went on the road and defeated Konawaena in five sets, after trailing 2-1 in games. Against Kamehameha, it was a deeper 2-0 hole.
“I think we learned that we can do it. If we’re pushed, we can fight back, even from being down 2-0 in sets,” she said. “Sometimes, we forget that. Tonight it reminded each of us that we can do it.”
