No. 1 ‘Iolani def. Kapolei 3-0 to Advance to HHSAA Semifinals
By Nick Abramo
Setter Maya Imoto-Eakin had the ‘Iolani offense in fine form Wednesday night.
The senior had 30 assists and the Raiders made quick work of Kapolei, winning the HHSAA/New City Nissan Girls Volleyball State Championships’ Division I quarterfinal match, 25-10, 25-13, 25-13, at the Moanalua High gym.
With the victory, top-seeded ‘Iolani (12-1) advanced to Thursday night’s semifinals against OIA runner-up Mililani (13-2) in the featured 7 p.m. match at Moanalua.
The Raiders are the only remaining team in the tournament from the ILH, a league that has won every D-I state title since 2003.
Punahou, the ILH’s other representative, fell to third-seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii, 25-12, 25-22, 27-25, on Wednesday at the McKinley gym.
En route to ‘Iolani’s sweep, Senna Roberts-Navarro supplied plenty of power by hitting .382 with 15 kills. Brooke Naniseni, with nine kills, and Eryn Hiraki, with seven, were also big contributors offensively.
Tessa Onaga, with 19 digs, led the Raiders’ sturdy defensive effort.
For Kapolei, Malinah Purcell-Telefoni put down eight kills, Henua Moefu and Leila Paraoan added six each, and setter Shayla Lacamiento had 26 assists.
All is not done for the Hurricanes (12-4). They meet Baldwin, which came into the tournament as the fourth seed, in a consolation match Thursday at 5 p.m. at McKinley. The winner of that one moves on to the fifth-place match Friday.
In a matchup of unbeaten in Thursday’s other D-I semifinal at Moanalua, BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawaii (17-0), fresh off that impressive win Wednesday over the Buff ’N Blue (9-7), takes on second-seeded OIA champion Kahuku (14-0. Start time is 5 p.m.
Those Red Raiders from the North Shore barely got past Moanalua on Wednesday at McKinley, 25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 31-33, 15-13.
After Thursday’s semifinals, the D-I tournament continues on Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center through the championship match at 7 p.m.
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