‘Iolani fell short of winning its third straight Ann Kang Invitational championship on Saturday.
The defending state champion Raiders went unbeaten in pool play on the first two days, not dropping a single set, before falling on Saturday.
The magic ‘Iolani had on Thursday and Friday didn’t carry over, though.
The Raiders were swept by Redondo Union (Calif.) 25-19, 25-16 to finish pool play and then fell to Byron Nelson (Texas) 25-22, 26-24 in the semifinals.
Redondo Union (Calif.) swept Santa Margarita (Calif.) 25-18, 25-18 in the semifinals and then swept Byron Nelson 25-19, 25-22 to win the championship.
Redondo Union, which won the tournament in 2009, and Byron Nelson were the only schools to go unbeaten in pool play.
Redondo Union is the first mainland team to win the title since Mira Costa (Calif.) in 2016. ‘Iolani won the previous two years and was trying to become the first Hawaii team to three-peat since Punahou in 2012-14. Last year ‘Iolani was the first Hawaii team to sweep the Ann Kang and state championships since Punahou in 2014.
Kahuku was the next-best finisher from Hawaii, losing to Palos Verde (Calif.) 25-23, 25-14 to take seventh place. Mililani finished in ninth, Moanalua was 11th, Pearl City was 14th and Hawaii Baptist took 15th.
Hawaii schools have won the elite preseason tournament 23 times, with mainland schools taking it 16 times.
COMMENTS