Sunday, November 09, 2003

By John Burnett/ For the Tribune-Herald

KEAAU - Last year, St. Joseph High School won its first ever Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls' volleyball title. Friday night, the Cardinals defended that title in what looked to be shockingly easy fashion, spiking Hawaii Preparatory Academy 25 - 11, 25 - 15 in the finals of the league tournament at the Keaau High gym.

Senior middle blocker Lindsey Lee led the Cards (16 - 0) with five kills, while freshman middle blocker Ona Tanaka added four. Senior outside hitter Jazmin Paakaula played her usual solid all - around game, both hitting well and reeling off six straight points from the service line - including two aces - that took top - seeded St. Joe from a 12 - 9 edge to a commanding 19 - 9 advantage. Senior setter Ashley Hanohano dealt 19 assists to her hitters.

"I think the girls were just ready to play," said Rachelle Hanohano, who co - coaches the Cardinals with husband, Tommy. "I think they all showed up to play. Everybody did their jobs. It was an important championship for our school because it was our first back - to - back championships."

Both St. Joe, which won the BIIF regular season crown, and second - seeded HPA (13 - 3) had already wrapped up berths at the state tournament, which runs Tuesday through Friday on Oahu. The two small private schools atop the league standings is a replay of last year, when the Cards remained undefeated through the semifinals, but lost a mild upset to Oahu Interscholastic Federation champion Kahuku in the state title match in Hilo.

"We're just going to try to represent the Big Island as best we can and whatever happens, happens," Hanohano said. Her team has reloaded, with the tall - and - talented Tanaka filling the void in left the middle when the 6 - foot - 3 Sarah Mason, who also played for Hilo and Christian Liberty during her prep career, left for a full - ride scholarship at Oregon, where Hilo native Carl Ferreira is the head coach.

Another surprise standout for the Cards this year is senior outside hitter Duchess Kama, who replaced 2003 graduate Kuuipo Hayes.

"Duchess has made the kind of improvements that happens when players commit to playing volleyball year - round." Most of the St. Joe team also plays for the YMCA Na Opio 18 team, also coached by the Hanohanos.

In an earlier game, No. 3 Kealakehe (13 - 4) clinched the BIIF's third state berth with a hard - fought 25 - 21, 25 - 19 win over sixth - seeded Hilo (10 - 7), which was hoping to play Cinderella at states. This is the second straight year that the Vikings have failed to grab a state berth, a rarity for a team that has historically been a league powerhouse.

For Kealakehe coach Missy Yomes, watching her Waveriders nab the third and final berth for the second consecutive season was a relief.

"I'm relaxed now, a lot more comfortable," she said. "Last week Saturday, I almost passed out when we played Ka'u. We had a tough match against HPA (Wednesday) and they just pounded on us. But tonight, the girls played really well."

Kealakehe got consistent hitting from middle blocker Antoinette Alapai and outside hitter Corrina Oliva, both seniors. Another senior, setter Lelia Kanuha, displayed an outstanding all - around game, serving the final six points for the match. Kanuha showed some smarts as well, holding onto a wet ball during a time - out called by Hilo coach Carla Carpenter - Kabalis with the score 22 - 19. Hilo setter Brooke Serikaku was unable to deal with the ball on the other side of the net. Kanuha received a dry ball for the next serve. It didn't matter as she calmly dealt an ace to bring up "aloha ball."

"If the ball was wet, I didn't see it," Yomes said about her setter's crafty move. "Some of the girls do practice serving wet balls, but I think she's such a canoe paddler that it didn't matter to her that it was wet."