Nice and air-conditioned here in Neal Blaisdell Arena on this late afternoon. Hana is the No. 2 seed, no surprise that the Dragons are here. HBA, of course, is a perennial power regardless of classification. The Eagles are No. 5 in the Star-Advertiser Boys Volleyball Top 10.
This is for the HHSAA Division II state crown. Hana has not won a state title in boys volleyball. Hawaii Baptist has won the last four and six of the past seven. That’s a D-II dynasty.
HAWAII BAPTIST VS. HANA
Game 1: Time out, Hana. HBA 7-1. The Eagles are in clinic mode, simply passing too well, setting with precision. Isaac Liva with three kills already. Nothing at the net by Hana to challenge the 6-foot-4 Liva and 6-4 Caleb Fisher.
Lead is up to 11-1 now. Hana has just eight players, but this is a team that has competed against the likes of King Kekaulike (its only MIL loss). HBA just too fluid right now.
HBA wins the first set 25-10. Fisher got in a few swings in the second half of the game. Just too much for the Dragons, who are sitting back instead of trying to put up a wall on either Fisher (four kills, ace) or Liva (seven kills).
Tough proposition, but can Hana adjust and get into this match?
Game 2: TV time out, HBA leads 13-8. Hana looks much more explosive and certain this time. Good distribution. Still no answer for Liva (three kills in this set).
Not time outs in that set other than the TV one. HBA wins 25-15. Dragons were within 11-7, but that was it. They’re getting some sweet sets by Jordan Redo-Rost to fellow senior Noah Hoopai-Feliciano and Chasen Kanakaole, but no defense against Liva and Fisher. Liva had six more kills and an ace in the second game. He now has 13 kills.
Game 3: Sounds like Game 2, with a 13-8 score (HBA leads) at the TV time out. However, this set has been the closest, easily. Hana led 4-2 and was down 10-8, partly due to hitting errors by HBA. Kanakaole, who is just a junior, has two more kills, and Redo-Rost, with his tricky left-handed dump shots, also has two kills in this set.
Hana fans here are awesome. They’re dancing during time outs to music, lots of signs, all positive for their boys.
HBA wins game 3, 25-11.
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