ILH GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
Raiders dominant in sweep of La Pietra
Jenic Tumaneng would be perfectly happy if his 'Iolani Raiders could be under the radar.
Of course, second-ranked 'Iolani is almost dead center in everyone's radar, and for good reason. The Raiders needed only 35 minutes to sweep La Pietra 25-6, 25-13 last night in the regular-season opener for both teams.
Chelsea Hardin and I'ishah Keliikoa pounded seven kills apiece, while setter Mali'e Yoon delivered 22 assists. Yoon also dropped in five of her team's seven service aces.
Brooke Mendoza and Shayla Hixson led the visiting Panthers with four kills each.
"They have strong middles and they're a strong serving team," La Pietra coach John Ehia said. "But we helped them a lot."
The Panthers have only one senior, setter Cody Koa, but she was away on a school-related activity. With Yoon at serve, the Raiders went on a run of 18 unanswered points for a 20-2 lead in the opening set. Yoon, more precise than overpowering, had four of her aces during the run.
"We were a little tight. Once they calmed down, they were fine," Ehia said.
By the second game, the Panthers showed some of their skills - two-thirds of the team play club ball in the offseason - and took a short-lived lead.
Hitting errors by the Raiders, plus kills from Jordan Schroer and Ashley Rupert, helped the visitors take a 6-3 lead. At that point, Tumaneng delivered his instructions with a renewed intensity, and 'Iolani followed suit.
Junior Mahina Haina, making a transition from the middle to the role of a hitter, had a back-row kill to spark a 15-6 run by the Raiders. Haina had four of her five kills in the second set, plus an ace to give Iolani an 18-12 lead.
Keliikoa, a senior, then had a step-out kill and a roof to help 'Iolani score the final seven points of the match. Tumaneng may find his voice wearing out soon.
"Yeah, we're trying to find the personality (of the team). Our past teams have had vocal leaders. We have leaders, but they never had to come out of their shells," he said. "For us to be successful, a couple of them have to come out."
Hardin, who has committed to Cal Poly, hit .583 and added three roofs. Keliikoa, who had two roofs, hit .875 with all seven kills coming over the middle.
Competing against the brutally tough elite of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu is a plus for Division II programs like La Pietra, Ehia said.
"The benefit is the competition makes you stronger and preps you for the playoffs," the second-year coach said. La Pietra is in the running for one of the ILH's three state-tourney berths in D-II.