FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Iolani's Mahina Haina watched as her shot went through the fingertips of Word of Life's Janna Kaopuiki yesterday.
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Iolani opens on fire
Iolani came out fired up from the get-go. By the time Word of Life came around, it was too late.
Benefiting from playing in three preseason tournaments -- including a fourth-place finish in the Ann Kang Invitational -- the Raiders jumped out early in a 25-16, 25-22 defeat of the Firebrands. It was the opening match of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season for both teams.
Leinani Keanini had 10 kills and Lauren Minkel, returning from a knee injury, added nine to lead the Raiders (1-0).
The Firebrands (0-1) got a match-high 12 kills from their star hitter, Chanteal Satele, but only 10 from the rest of the team.
The Raiders went early to Keanini, the left-side hitter, to establish their offense. She slammed down an overpass for her third kill and Mali'e Yoon and Mahina Haina blocked a Word of Life attack to take a brisk 12-4 lead in Game 1.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Iolani's Lauren Ching returned a serve by Word of Life in last night's Interscholastic League of Honolulu match, won by the Raiders.
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"I think we felt really confident," said Keanini, a 5-foot-7 senior. "Our team's been working really hard. We've had three tournaments so far (including a championship in the McKinley Classic) so we're connecting pretty well, chemistry-wise. I think we're excited and I guess it showed."
Keanini took a quick set from Yoon for a smash and crushed another overpass off a serve for her team's final two points of the first game, in which they led by as many as 10 points.
Firebrands coach LeeAnn Satele wasn't concerned about her Division II team facing one of the premier Division I ILH teams in its first league match of the season. It was more a matter of getting everyone settled into their roles, and they were able to do that in Game 2, despite an early 9-3 deficit after three straight Chelsea Hardin aces.
"We just wanted to be the best that we could be, staying focused on our game," the coach said. "We knew Iolani would be a good team; we just wanted to control our side of the net."
The offense of her daughter, Chanteal, was consistent throughout the match on the outside. But when the Firebrands started letting things flow at the middle of the net halfway through the game, they were able to distribute the ball around for a broader attack.
Tianna Pearson and Crystal Powell capitalized with kills to help their team stave off three match points and pull within 24-22, but Iolani coach Jenic Tumaneng called a timeout, and Yoon set up Haina down the middle for a quick strike to seal it.