The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division I and II boys volleyball playoffs continued Monday evening in the semifinal rounds, setting the stage for tonight’s championship matches beginning at 5 p.m. at Hilo High School.
KA‘U 3, PAHOA 2
The No. 3-seeded Trojans outlasted the No. 2-seeded, home standing Daggers in a five-set battle for their first BIIF DII title game berth and state championship appearance since 2014, winning a playoff semifinal matchup on Monday night in Puna.
After Pahoa started off with a 25-18 win, Ka‘u won the next set 25-17. The Daggers won the third 25-23, and the Trojans prevailed 25-17 in the fourth before dominating the fifth set 15-8.
Pahoa’s season ended at 9-2 overall and 9-1 in the regular season. The Daggers swept Ka‘u in their regular season finale two weeks prior, and had only suffered one loss before Monday — a four-set road test against Konawaena in early April.
It’s been ten years since Ka‘u last played in a BIIF final and the state playoffs. In 2014, the Trojans went five sets with Honoka‘a to win the BIIF DII championship — then fell to Seabury Hall at state before losing to the Dragons in the third-place consolation game.
The last time Ka‘u (10-2) and Konawaena (11-0) faced off was mid-March, when the Wildcats prevailed in straight sets.
KSH 3, WAIAKEA 1
No. 3 Waiakea put up a good fight, but couldn’t withstand No. 2 KS-Hawai‘i, falling in four sets in a BIIF DI semifinal matchup on Monday in Kea‘au.
WHS’ third-set win of 25-21 was surrounded by losses of 25-18 in the first set, 26-24 in the second and 25-19 in the fourth.
“We didn’t feel like we played our best,” KSH head coach Sam Thomas said. “We were missing a few pieces.”
Kaha‘i Helm, a KSH freshman and starting middle blocker, is away on O‘ahu playing in the HHSAA golf championship after placing first at the BIIF golf finals last week.
“The whole team is so happy and so proud of him,” Thomas said. “Our school preaches that ‘ohana concept, and as his ‘ohana, we back his being away to go after that state championship.”
Sophomore Kawohi Huihui, another weapon of KSH’s front line, sat out due to an injury.
“That’s two of our middles, so that made it harder for us,” Thomas said. “We had to make some positional changes. But, if you see the hitting numbers, we ended up with a pretty balanced offense.”
Nainoa Paio led the way with ten kills, trailed by Kullen Pua with seven, Kahili Paleka with six and five apiece from Loheau Boshard and Kalahikiola Makaike. Boshard and Tanoa Laititi each made four blocks, while Kalena Lainui put up 21 assists.
Waiakea’s season concluded at 4-9 overall and 4-8 in the regular season. Though the Warriors had a rough start to their season — entering a five-loss skid after winning their first game — they rallied to collect three wins in two weeks during April, surpassing Kealakehe to take the No. 3 standing and playoff seed.
The victory officially punched KSH’s ticket to its third straight BIIF DI finals appearance since the end of the pandemic and second consecutive title matchup against Hilo.
It’s been a long time since KSH last entered the BIIF finals as an underdog, and the Warriors have had to adapt their mindsets to the somewhat unprecented situation. The Vikings will also have the home-court advantage — one that has done them well this season, as Hilo is 6-1 at home — its only loss being in the early season to KSH.
“They’re the favorites to win,” Thomas said. “They’re a very well-coached, well-disciplined team. We’re gonna have to try to work hard to make a good match of it. They’re looking really tough this year.”
KONA 3, KOHALA 0
After some time off with its double-bye, Konawaena boys volleyball handled business against Kohala in Kealakekua’s Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium — winning in straight sets. It was the second time this season in which both schools faced off, with the Wildcats winning in four sets on March 27.
Kona won a close 25-23 first set, but quick adjustments made in between frames allowed the green and white to wrap up the evening quickly, winning the next two by scores of 25-7 and 25-19.
Now with its ticket punched to the DII championship at 5 p.m. tonight, the Wildcats will match up against No. 3 Ka‘u. Both teams matched up on April 1, with Kona winning in four competitive sets.
HILO 3, KEALAKEHE 0
Hilo boys volleyball collected its 10th straight win of the season, beating Kealakehe in straight sets to advance to the DI championship at 6:30 p.m. tonight, immediately following the DII match.
The Waveriders competed, but the Vikings’ prolific offense was too much for Kealakehe to handle. Hilo won every set by scores of 25-14, 25-20 and a narrow 26-24 third frame. It was the fourth meeting between the two schools this season, with the Vikings winning each time.
With one match remaining in the BIIF season, Hilo will play KS-Hawai‘i for the DI title.
The Vikings’ lone loss this season came from the Warriors on March 11, when the match went five sets. Hilo got KSH back the following month, beating the Warriors in five sets on April 2 and in four on April 17.