RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Aiea's Sasha Andrade, 11, and Brandi Pascua-Aipa, right, tried to block a hit by Roosevelt's Brandi Pupuhi yesterday.

Kabalis' 25 kills lead Menehunes past Sabers

On the brink of defeat, Moanalua turned to its sophomore sensation to keep its state title hopes alive.

Kaleinani Kabalis hammered a match-high 25 kills, including 11 in the decisive Game 3, as the Menehunes overcame a slow start to defeat a scrappy Maui team 20-25, 25-14, 26-24 yesterday on the first day of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I Girls Volleyball State Championships at Kekuhaupio Gym.

Junior Brianna Amian added 12 kills and Sarah Robinson six for the Menehunes. The Sabers were also led by a talented sophomore in Janet Ugaitafa, who put down nine kills and two aces.

"They were scrappy," Menehunes coach Tommy Lake said. "That's the worst kind of team for us to play on the first day. They play a real nice, level game at the same tempo."

The Menehunes were at a disadvantage heading into the game as they hadn't seen Maui play this season. The unfamiliarity showed in the first game as Moanalua committed eight hitting errors and had trouble blocking the taller Sabers team.

"Looking at their roster I knew they were tall," Lake said. "They pretty much had their way on the outside and we had a problem with blocking."

Trailing one game to none, the Menehunes immediately started feeding Kabalis, who responded by putting down five kills and an ace early in Game 2 to help jump start the offense as Moanalua easily took the second game.

"We just started off slow," Kabalis said. "We just seem not to get that much energy going early, but we came together as a team and got it going."

A solo block by Krysten Adsuara tied the score at 23 in the final game. Kabalis put down her 25th and final kill to give Moanalua the one-point lead, but Paea Mataele answered with a kill of her own to tie it again. But Adsuara would hammer another kill and Amian put down the final ball after a miscommunication on defense by the Sabers to end the match.

The win moves the Menehunes into the quarterfinals against top-seeded Kamehameha today at 8 p.m. Maui will face Aiea in a consolation game at 2 p.m.

Iolani def. Waipahu 25-10, 25-16

Sophomore outside hitter Leinani Keanini led the Raiders with 11 kills as Iolani defeated the Marauders.

The Raiders will face No. 3 seed Kamehameha-Maui today at 6:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals and Waipahu, who was led by Samantha Misa's five kills, will play Waiakea tomorrow at 2 p.m. in a consolation match.

Kalani def. Waiakea 25-16, 25-17

Charly Sampaga put down a match-high eight kills and Brandie Vea had nine digs as the Falcons defeated the Warriors.

The victory advances Kalani to today's 5 p.m. match against second-ranked Kahuku in the second of four quarterfinal matches.

Roosevelt def. Aiea 25-17, 18-25, 25-22

Justiana Kalilimoku's 11 kills helped offset a match-high 24 kills from Aiea's Lelani Kleman-Maeva as the Rough Riders defeated Na Alii.

Tasha Johnson had 15 digs for Aiea, and Teri Takemoto led Roosevelt with 13.

Division II

Kaimuki def. Kapaa 25-21, 16-25, 25-22

Alysia Fiamate pounded 10 kills and Kelsey Rita added nine as the Bulldogs outlasted the Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Warriors.

Louise Fiamate and Kassy Feary-Ramos led Kaimuki's defense with 10 digs apiece.

Kapaa's Poerava Gantt led all hitters with 18 kills. Britney Carvalho added 19 digs for the Warriors, who won their first KIF title this season after a 35-year drought.

Sacred Hearts def. Konawaena 25-21, 23-25, 25-20

Tiffany Phillips tallied seven kills and 3.5 blocks, and Lauren Wong added six kills as the Lancers edged the Wildcats. Charnelle Yap's 11 digs led a Sacred Hearts defense that limited Konawaena to a hitting percentage of minus-.070.

Jessica Conor, Britney Hardie and Kiana Kapuniai each had four kills to lead the Wildcats. Amniesty Ragsac had a match-high 16 digs. Kapuniai also had three blocks.

Maryknoll def. St. Joseph 25-22, 25-13

Elissa Ji pounded eight kills and Kristen Ho hustled for 11 digs as the Spartans advanced to the quarterfinals.

Freshman Chelsie Hanohano led the Cardinals with six kills. Chloe Rapozo had 10 digs.

Kaiser def. Hana 25-11, 21-25, 25-15

The Lady Cougars limited the Dragons to a hitting percentage of minus-.056 for the tough win. Individual statistics were not available at press time.