Prep Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, November 12, 1999

Punahou leads
advance into state
quarterfinals

By Stan Atkins
Special to the Star-Bulletin

HILO - Top-seeded Punahou faces Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Pearl City today in the quarterfinals of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state boys' volleyball tournament.

The five-time defending champions of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu made quick work of Pool A yesterday, dispatching Leilehua, 15-5, 15-9, and host school Waiakea, 15-4, 15-10.

The Buffanblu, winners of 17 of the last 19 state titles, will play the No. 2-seeded Chargers, who were upset by Konawaena of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, 9-15, 15-8, 15-8, in the final contest last night at Waiakea gym.

The Wildcats, third in the BIIF this season, will play the Warriors of Waiakea in tonight's quarterfinals. Konawaena won Pool B by ousting Molokai, 15-6, 15-2, before their upset of the OIA champions.

Waiakea survived Pool A, defeating Leilehua, 15-11, 15-9, to send the Mules packing after the first day of the tournament. The Warriors finished ahead of Konawaena in the BIIF, but must find an offense to counter the Wildcats' great digging ability.

The winner of that contest will face the victor of the Kamehameha-Kalaheo matchup. The Warriors of the ILH had little trouble in their bracket, defeating and sending home Roosevelt, 15-1, 15-7, then pummeling Hilo, 15-4, 15-3.

Kalaheo arrived at the quarterfinals by repelling Kauai, 13-15, 15-11, 15-9, before falling to Maui champion Seabury Hall, 15-7, 15-13. The Mustangs have a tall order in trying to hit around the superb blocking of Kamehameha, which suffocated Hilo's usually consistent offense. The Warriors are the only team to win the state title besides Punahou in the past two decades.

Seabury Hall, the fourth seed, will meet third-seeded Hilo in the last quarterfinal. The Spartans, from Maui, knocked out Kauai, 15-3, 15-9, before beating Kalaheo in two sets.

The Hilo Vikings advanced in Pool C, coming from behind to best Roosevelt, 8-15, 15-7, 15-10, before getting clobbered by Kamehameha in straight sets. Hilo will have to have a better passing game to beat the taller Spartans.

The Punahou-Pearl City winner will meet the Seabury Hall-Hilo victor at 2 p.m. tomorrow in one semifinal, while the Kalaheo-Kamehameha winner plays the Waiakea-Konawaena winner at 3:30. Third place will be decided at 5:30 p.m., with the championship game to follow at 7:30.

Quarterfinals

Today, at Waiakea High School

Punahou vs. Pearl City, 3:30 p.m.
Kamehameha vs. Kalaheo, 4:45 p.m.
Konawaena vs. Waiakea, 6 p.m.
Seabury Hall vs. Hilo, 7:15 p.m.

Semifinal and Finals

Tomorrow, at Waiakea High School

Semifinals, starting at 2 p.m.
Third-place match, 5:30 p.m.
Championship match, 7:30 p.m.