As Waiakea knows, defense wins championships, and it helps to have a libero like Jordyn Hayashi stopping an opponent from scoring, and a pair of mobile blockers like Kadara Marshall and Brianna Ridgway putting up a brickwall.
As Waiakea knows, defense wins championships, and it helps to have a libero like Jordyn Hayashi stopping an opponent from scoring, and a pair of mobile blockers like Kadara Marshall and Brianna Ridgway putting up a brickwall.
Hayashi recorded 26 digs as Waiakea dethroned Kamehameha 18-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-22 for the BIIF Division I championship on Saturday night at Hilo High’s Gym, snapping the private school’s five-year reign.
Waiakea’s block also made its presence felt, with more stuffs than Kamehameha, 7-5. Marshall and Ridgway shared roofing honors with three stuffs each for the public school.
It wasn’t just the front and back row, but also the subtle play from Waiakea junior right-side hitter Lindsey Maikui, who passed a ton of clean balls to setters Hiilei Ishii-Chaves and Taniah Ayap.
Maikui walloped 13 kills while Marshall and Cassie Emnase chipped in 10 each, and Kryssie Okinaka added nine kills for Waiakea (15-3).
Senior setter/hitter Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker slammed a match-high 19 kills while Kailee Yoshimura added eight for Kamehameha (13-5).
It probably hurt Kamehameha that Makekau-Whittaker returned to setting duties when she rotated to the back row. That showed in the kills; Waiakea had far more, 50-42.
Waiakea was also more efficient. Kamehameha had a few more unforced errors, 38-34. That’s not a lopsided margin, but in a championship every point counts.
The public-school Warriors really played focused, despite the fact that one of their top hitters, sophomore Kayla Kahauolopua didn’t play for the second consecutive match. She also missed a semifinal sweep over Kealakehe on Thursday.
“The feeling is indescribable,” Marshall said. “Our team came together and played for each other. We wanted it and knew it was our year. We wanted to show that all our hard work at practice was not for nothing. We were focused and everyone had tunnel vision.”
That’s a trump card that Marshall’s veteran Warriors held over Makekau-Whittaker’s greenhorn Warriors, who returned only one starter from last season.
Last season, Waiakea advanced to states for the first time since 2010. Marshall, Ridgway, Ishii-Chaves, and defender Casi Gacusana are all key seniors. It’s their last chance at a title, and they all played that way.
Waiakea last won the BIIF title in 2009, then Kamehameha captured the next five championships.
The HHSAA state tournament will run Wednesday through Saturday on Oahu.
Last year, Kamehameha, the No. 3 seed, was swept by ILH runner-up and eventual state champion Punahou in the quarterfinals on Maui, and was eliminated. Waiakea beat Mililani in five sets in the first round, and lost to Kamehameha-Kapalama in the quarterfinals.
Kamehameha and Waiakea split their two matches in the regular season.
In the first set, Kamehameha’s Trinity Alameda served seven straight points, getting an ace for the last point.
Waiakea didn’t help itself with 13 unforced errors, including two during Alameda’s run; Kamehameha had nine giveaway points.
Makekau-Whittaker pounded five kills, but could have had a lot more if not for Hayashi’s 10 digs in the opening game.
In the second set, Waiakea played much cleaner ball with just three unforced errors; Kamehameha had nine giveaway points.
Emnase ripped four kills while Marshall and Okinaka had three each to balance Waiakea’s offense.
It was pretty much the same thing in the third set.
Emanse and Maikui each had four kills and Marshall and Okinaka each had three kills to offset Waiakea’s unforced errors, 10. Kamehameha had six giveaway points.