The good news: four Big Island boys volleyball teams competed in the HHSAA state tournament this week on Oahu.
The bad news: all four were eliminated from state contention early, moving to the consolation brackets.
BIIF Division II champion Pahoa lost a hard-fought match to Hana in Wednesday’s DII quarterfinals, falling three sets to two.
The Daggers dropped the first two sets 25-22 and 25-23, but made a late-match surge after winning 26-24 in the third frame and 25-18 in the fourth. In the decisive fifth set, the Dragons were able to escape Pahoa 17-15.
The Daggers had three players log double-digit kills — Kyran Canete (15), Elima Antoque (12) and Kanoa Emsley (10). Teammate Ryden Devaney dished out a match-high 47 assists, while Noel Shipp and Dayten Fujiyama combined for 23 digs on the defensive side of the net.
But Pahoa was no match for Hana superstar Elau Hoopai-Waikoloa, who turned heads with a 39-kill, four-ace performance. He also logged a match-high 16 digs. Teammate Kaya Rodrigues added 11 digs.
The Daggers dropped to 12-3 on the season, and played Kapolei in the DII consolation bracket Thursday night. Pahoa clinched its first conference title since 2012 this season, beating Ka‘u in a thrilling five sets on May 2.
The other island champs, Konawaena, were swept by Mililani in Wednesday’s DI quarterfinals — 25-19, 25-23 and 25-20.
Maxon McCloskey and Ellison Morgan led the Wildcats with 13 kills each, while teammates Braulio Media Magana and Alex McCloskey combined for 31 assists. Morgan also led the team in digs with 11.
But Kona was still no match for the Trojans, who were led by Kaito Duranceau with a match-high 18 kills. Teammates Moises Murillo and Seth Kimura combined for 20 kills. Isaiah Holeso led in assists with 18.
While Mililani moved on to the semis, Kona took on Radford in the consolation bracket late Thursday night.
The Wildcats finished the BIIF season with a perfect 12-0 record, sweeping Kamehameha-91直播 in the May 2 island championship.
KSH, the BIIF DI runner up, was swept by 91直播 Baptist during Saturday’s state-opening round in Kea‘au — 25-18, 25-23 and 25-22. The Eagles were spearheaded by Jason Rivers, who logged a match-high 23 kills. Teammate Aaron Woolpert dished out a match-high 21 assists, while Tanner Hankey added 12 digs.
The Warriors were led by Kameron Pua with nine kills. Analu Kaholokai-Yockman dished out a team-high 16 assists.
KSH ended the season 9-5.
BIIF DII runner-up Ka‘u fell to Pearl City in Wednesday’s DII quarterfinal — falling in four sets to scores of 26-24, 14-25, 10-25 and 19-25. The Trojans fell to 9-6 on the season.
Ka‘u was heralded by Karsen Polido-Tuaifaiva with 12 kills and 10 digs — both team highs. Teammate Emil Soriano dished out 29 assists.
The Chargers were led by Josiah Talamoa, who secured 20 kills. Teammate Marley Ngirmidol dished a match-high 46 assists, while Blayze Reveira-Octubre logged 14 digs.
The Trojans were reassigned to the DII consolation bracket, where they took on Kauai late Thursday night at Kaimuki High School.
