[ HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL ]
Moanalua's Patti Hardimon was close to unstoppable yesterday as she made sure the Menehune girls volleyball team's postseason run would continue into November. Hardimon nearly perfect to
keep Menehunes alive in playoffs
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comHardimon hammered 11 kills in 12 swings to lead Moanalua to a 15-2, 15-11 win over Nanakuli in the quarterfinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs yesterday at Radford Gym.
The senior was equally effective hitting outside or in the middle, as Nanakuli didn't register a dig against her until late in the second game.
"I expect her to lead the team a little more," Moanalua coach Sheri Sagayaga said. "She needs to pick up her intensity so the rest of the team can follow her."
The Menehunes will follow Hardimon, one of just four seniors on the team, into Wednesday's OIA semifinals against Pearl City at 6 p.m. at Radford.
Yesterday's win also guaranteed Moanalua (10-1) a spot in next month's state tournament in Hilo.
The three other girls winners yesterday -- Pearl City, Kahuku and Kalani -- also secured berths to states.
Nanakuli, which advanced to the quarterfinals with a three-set win over Roosevelt on Friday, finished its season at 7-4. Senior outside hitter Lehua Yap led the Golden Hawks with seven kills and three aces.
"The girls played all heart," Nanakuli coach Moani Nahulu-Mahelona said. "They showed their game and they proved why they belong here.
"(Hardimon) played her game, but it was more us having to focus and play our game. We didn't get a chance to play our game until the second set."
Hardimon registered six kills and an ace in the first game as Moanalua breezed to an easy win. Ashley Gandauli closed the game with one of the Menehunes' seven aces in the match.
Moanalua opened up a controlling 8-3 lead in the second game. But Nanakuli refused to fold, and the Hawks trailed 11-8 when Ashley Palakiko went back to serve. Two kills by Yap and a tip by Leona Wright that found the floor tied the game at 11.
Moanalua sophomore Alisa Hout ended the Nanakuli run with one of her six kills. The Menehunes regained the lead on a hitting error by Yap and inched ahead on kills by Hout and Hardimon.
Nanakuli fought off two Moanalua serves for match point, but Kepuanani Lee put down a kill to give Moanalua a sideout and another to end it and send the Menehunes to the state tournament.
"This was our biggest game," Sagayaga said. "This game really meant a lot."
In other girls matches, Kahuku waltzed past Mililani 15-7, 15-7, Pearl City squeezed past Aiea 10-15, 15-12, 15-9, and Kalani beat Kalaheo 15-8, 16-14.
Defending OIA champion Kahuku, Pearl City and Kalani made the state tournament last year.
West sends four boys teams to states: Pearl City, Campbell, Leilehua and Mililani earned trips to the boys state tournament with quarterfinal wins yesterday.
Campbell earned its first trip to the state tournament by beating Kalaheo 13-15, 15-3, 15-6. Kainoa Rapoza led the way with 11 kills.
"We knew we could beat them because we played them earlier (in the preseason)," Campbell coach Vince Bajet said. "All we had to do was play our game."
The Sabers, who reached the OIA tournament for the first time last season, will meet Pearl City in the OIA semifinals. Mililani and Leilehua square off in the other semifinal next week.
Defending OIA champion Pearl City, whose lone regular season loss was a forfeit, routed Roosevelt 15-12, 15-4. Mililani ousted McKinley 15-7, 15-10 and Leilehua beat the East's top seed, Castle, 15-10, 15-11.
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