Junitta Fonoti drilled 12 kills as Farrington fought off Kamehameha-Hawaii 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24 last night in opening-round play of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division I State Championships.

Farrington (12-7), the third-place team from the OIA Red, will face three-time defending state champion Kamehameha today in the quarterfinals at Kekuhaupio Gym.

Fonoti's effort was nearly thwarted by her counterpart across the net, Megan Waiki, who sparked a rally by the Warriors. Waiki, a 5-foot-11 senior, had six kills and seven blocks.

“;I think we're still an underdog,”; Farrington coach Reagan Agena said. “;(Kamehameha-Hawaii) is tough. We had to really fight for everything.”;

Farrington breezed to a 2-0 lead in the match, fueled by Fonoti, a senior middle. Fonoti pounded away from the left side in the first game for five kills and added two blocks. The Warriors got within 18-17 on a kill by Kuulei Kabalis, but Fonoti had a block and two kills as the Govs closed out the set with a 7-3 run.

The Govs seized a 10-4 lead in the second game and were never threatened. Keui Remigio had four kills in the set and KS-Hawaii got no closer than five points.

After the second set, KS-Hawaii (11-5), the BIIF's second-place team, finally settled down.

“;We said, 'Let's do our cheer.' That fired them up to come back,”; Warriors coach Tammy Lee said.

Farrington had a 17-11 lead and was en route to a sweep, but the Warriors rallied behind Kekelaokalani Bennett and Kabalis to rally back. The Warriors took a 22-21 lead on a violation, and kills by Waiki and Kayla Lacaran-Costales put away the game.

The fourth game included six lead changes, and an 8-1 run gave KS-Hawaii a 22-18 lead. However, the Govs rallied with a block and kill by Fenumiai Tofilau. Farrington then tied it at 23-all on a lift call that was disputed by the Warriors bench.

The Govs won it on a dig by Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo that landed in KS-Hawaii's backcourt, just inside the end line.

Moanalua 3, Aiea 0

Aiea had no answer for Moanalua's Latricia Taifane, who dominated the middle with 11 kills in Na Menehune's 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 win.

Lahela Kaili-Laroya led Moanalua (13-5) with 13 kills and Kaylee Ponce added 10.

“;Of all the (first-round) teams, Aiea was the one I was scared of,”; Moanalua coach Tommy Lake said. “;They hit smart, they've got digging and passing. They know us.”;

Setter Carsen Mata tallied 33 assists, eight digs, four kills and two aces for Moanalua.

Kelly Leopoldo led Aiea (13-4) with nine kills.