HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Seabury Hall's Kate Shoemaker and Alex Bolduc went up to block Word of Life's Chanteal Satele.
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Spartans storm past Word of Life
The Spartans' undefeated run continues.
Division II Schedule
At McKinley/Radford
YESTERDAY
At Radford
Match 11: Waimea def. Farrington 25-23, 22-25, 25-23
13: Hawaii Baptist def. Molokai 25-21, 25-16
At McKinley
12: Hilo def. Castle 25-16, 25-23
14: Seabury Hall def. Word of Life 20-25, 25-17, 25-17
TODAY
At McKinley
Consolation championship: Honokaa vs. University, 3 p.m.
Fifth place: Waimea vs. Hilo, 4:30 p.m.
Third place: Molokai vs. Word of Life, 6 p.m.
Championship: Hawaii Baptist vs. Seabury Hall, 7:30 p.m.
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No. 2 seed Seabury Hall outlasted Word of Life, 20-25, 25-17, 25-17 in the semifinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division II Girls State Volleyball Championships last night at McKinley's Student Council Gym.
For the second straight night, the Spartans (14-0) were extended to three games but prevailed behind a balanced attack led by Yacine Meyer's 13 kills.
"We knew we could do it," said Meyer, a 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter. "We knew how to pull together."
Kaimi Rocha added nine kills and three blocks, and Kaipo Rocha and Alex Bolduc each notched six kills for the Maui Interscholastic League champion Spartans, who face Hawaii Baptist Academy for the Division II championship tonight.
The Spartans overcame 17 kills by Word of Life's Chanteal Satele, including eight in the first game.
The Firebrands jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead in the first game behind Satele's three kills and service ace. Seabury Hall rallied to tie the game at nine and seized the lead four times, the last at 16-15, before Word of Life's Crystal Powell put down four late kills to close out the game.
Seabury Hall seized control of Game 2, racing to a 16-6 lead behind two aces by sophomore setter Keana Cramer, who Spartans head coach Scottie Zucco platooned with senior Anuhea Rilveria.
"It's great to put a call out, 'Who's gonna step up tonight?'" said Zucco. "In volleyball, that's the essence of team play."
Despite senior Firebrand middle Janna Kaopuiki's two blocks and two kills in Game 3, Word of Life could not overcome six hitting errors and the Spartans' multipronged attack.
The teams traded the lead four times, with Word of Life taking its last advantage at 12-11 before the Spartans' block began slowing Satele. Seabury Hall stretched the lead to 22-16 behind Cramer's tough serving and two kills by Meyer. Untimely Firebrand unforced errors and a Meyer tip shot closed out the match, touching off a jubilant celebration by the Spartans and its supporters from Makawao.
"We mentally didn't take care of assignments," said LeeAnn Satele, the Firebrands' coach. "Bottom line, you just have to give credit to Seabury."