KAMUELA — The defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division II champions started off 2024 on the right foot Monday in Hawaii Prep Academy’s Castle Gym.
Ka Makani girls volleyball opened its season against Ehunui, and picked up right where it left off a year ago in terms of on-court dominance. HPA won the outing in straight sets, 3-0.
In the opening frame, Ka Makani had its most dominant stretch of night with a 25-4 beatdown. In the next set, Ehunui showed more fight, but HPA still won comfortably 25-11. To close things out, Ka Makani won set No. 3 25-12 to move to 1-0 in the early season.
Fresh off a 15-2 overall season, an island title and state tournament appearance in 2024, HPA has similiar aspirations this season. Especially with key players such as Margo Lewis (‘23 All-BIIF), Elaina Head, Mya Pinkert and Maile Imonen returning to be senior captains. The trio is joined by junior Madie Buczyna, sophomore Moana Motyka, sophomore Frida Coulon, junior Lehia Akau, junior Nina Cipriano and sophomore Chloe Willman as the other returning players.
While losing key players such as 2023 BIIF DII Player of the Year Brooke Samura and All-BIIF nominee Meleana Warfield to graduation hurts, Ka Makani has a healthy influx of new underclassmen on the roster that the team is excited for — such as freshman Emily Thorton, freshman Kaiulani Honda and sophomore Leia Benioff.
HPA’s next test will be against DI opponent Kealakehe this weekend, as Ka Makani will travel south for a 3 p.m. Saturday match inside the Waveriders’ gymnasium in Kailua-Kona.
Ehunui, who hasn’t fielded a varsity team since the 2017 BIIF season, will continue its return tour next week against Kanu o ka ‘Aina. First serve is slated for 5 p.m. Monday in Captain Cook.
Pahoa 3, CLA 0
Pahoa girls volleyball kicked the 2024 season off with a straight-sets victory over Christian Liberty Academy on Monday in Kea‘au. The Daggers won 3-0.
The first set of the evening was close, but Pahoa managed to escape with a 25-22 frame victory. In the set No. 2, the Daggers got more comfortable, winning 25-7. To put the match away, Pahoa won the third set convincingly again — 25-10.
The Daggers, who finished 9-5 in 2023, will enjoy the week off before returning to the court against Kea‘au — scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday in Pahoa town.
The Canefire, who went 2-8 a year ago, played Kea‘au last night and will next take on Ka‘u — who finished No. 3 in BIIF DII last season — at 5 p.m. Thursday in Pahala. See the paper in the coming days for the results.
