The road to one more league championship was less than smooth, but Hawaii Baptist got there with a flourish.

Sarah Palmer cranked 18 kills and two aces as the Eagles swept Word of Life 25-20, 26-24, 25-17 yesterday at HBA's gym to claim the Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls volleyball tournament title.

“;It's one of the best matches for us this year. We played as a team,”; said Palmer, a junior. “;We've had a lot of ups and downs.”;

C'era Oliveira added eight kills and an ace, Taryn Bohan had five kills and middle Brianna Lovett chipped in four. Kelly Chang sparked HBA's determined back row.

Word of Life needed a win to force a playoff against the regular-season champions, but HBA (16-2) would not relent. Ranked No. 5 in the Star-Bulletin Girls Volleyball Top 10, the Eagles were too balanced for the powerful Firebrands (11-6).

Word of Life has often come very close, but has yet to win a match at HBA's gym since joining the ILH. HBA won this season's regular-season match 25-23, 29-27.

“;They didn't underestimate Word of Life,”; HBA coach Myles Shioji said. “;That's a great team.”;

Crystal Powell's nine kills and Kainoa Ocasek's eight led No. 9-ranked Word of Life, which had already qualified for the Division II state tournament. Kaena Haina tallied five kills.

Another loss to HBA, the defending Division II state champs, took a bit of the wind out of the Firebrands' sails. The state tourney begins in 10 days - Nov. 5.

“;We have time. We're looking forward to states, but as coaches we just got to find ways to get them to play well,”; coach Lee Ann Satele said. “;It's a matter of consistency.”;

Word of Life, fueled by Kaina and Ocasek, outblocked HBA 5-2. The Firebrands were tough when they passed well - Phoebe Fetu dished 22 assists - by using quick sets to the bigs. However, HBA took aim at the heart of WLA's defense to keep the visitors off-balance. Using a short serve, the home team accumulated five aces.

“;Our serve-receive, that's the only trouble we have,”; Satele said. “;HBA always plays a smart game.”;

The serving advantage - Word of Life had just one ace - came in handy. HBA hit .262 while limiting the Firebrands to a .221 clip.

Precise sets by Kayla Kawamura (18 assists) and Chelsie Mow (11) kept HBA in a flow.

HBA took command of the opening set after five lead changes. Palmer drilled three kills in a row, including one from the back row, to start a run of 10 consecutive points. After Oliveira's ace, the Eagles led 21-13. Powell put down three kills and an ace as Word of Life got within 23-20, but HBA called timeout. Palmer scored the next two points on a kill and an ace that looked more like a changeup pitch than a heater.

“;That serve was short by mistake,”; Palmer said.

The second game was tightly contested, partly because WLA had its best hitting effort at .318. HBA didn't lead until Bohan's kill from the right side gave the Eagles a 16-15 edge. After two more lead changes, Palmer muscled three more kills through the Firebrands defense for a 25-24 lead. A hitting error by WLA gave HBA a 2-0 lead in the match.

Word of Life had an 8-4 lead in the third set, but a 13-3 run by HBA turned things around. WLA was within 17-13 after Haina pounded a kill down the middle and combined with Powell for a roof.

Mow, Palmer and Bohan delivered kills as HBA opened a 21-14 lead. WLA got no closer than five the rest of the way.

Now both teams go back to the workshop.

“;This is when we've got to work the hardest,”; said Palmer, an anchor last year's state-title squad. “;We're banged up, so we'll get some rest. Coach said from now it's quality over quantity.”;