One team looked ready to make a deep Division II run in the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Volleyball State Championships. The other played like it was happy to be in the first round.

Pahoa made short work of Kapolei, 25-16, 25-18, 25-14 at Kalani's gym to advance to the tourney quarterfinals today against Big Island Interscholastic Federation rival Hilo.

The Daggers (10-5) unsheathed a balanced and deadly attack at the fingertips of sophomore setter Chris Mendoza, who notched 34 assists and coaxed seven or more kills from five teammates.

The diminutive Mendoza, generously listed at 5-foot-4, had options at all times with Pahoa's towering hitters. Jonathan Viernes put down a team-high 10 kills, Isaiah Ekau chipped in nine, and John Byrd, Sheyten Waters and Clinton Howard added seven apiece. All are 6 feet or taller.

Pahoa was especially effective with quick sets to its middles, which opened up the rest of the floor.

“;Sometimes we reel in (opponents') middles with our middles, make them bite, and set outside for 1-on-1s for outsides or weaksides,”; Mendoza said.

Coach Ikaika Marzo set his aim high this year after last season's third-place state finish. Too many service errors (13) had him shaking his head, and his Daggers lost their offensive focus over a few stretches.

“;We're still not to our potential — we played a bad game today,”; Marzo said. “;I guess the first-game jitters. We're still getting to where we're supposed to be.”;

Kapolei was making its first state appearance, and looked the part for most of the match. Steven Johnson had seven kills, but the Hurricanes (7-9) never got into a flow.

“;Pahoa's a good team. They're a well-balanced, feisty little team,”; Kapolei coach Glenn Chong said.

Waimea def. Honokaa 25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18

Kill leaders—Waim: Quinn Gonsalves 14; Keaku Canute 12. Hon: Kapena Esquerra 12; EJ Tabuldo 11.

Kohala def. Kaimuki 25-21, 25-15, 25-15

Kill leaders—Koh: Ulana Sylva 11; Jeffery Medeiros 11. Kaim: Kainoa Durante 5.

Waipahu def. Le Jardin 25-21, 25-21, 31-33, 25-23

Kill leaders—LeJ: Kalani Soeda 21; Maunakea Coelho 15. Waip: Duketoa Tili 20; Regan Prestidge 18; Arllen Laufasa 8.