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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Kalani crushes Campbell to reach OIA quarterfinals

 •  Volleyball postseason

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Kalani High School girls volleyball team showed last night it isn't ready to hand over its title of O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion just yet.

Kalani's Puahone Paia hammers a kill through the Campbell block as Falcons teammate Meghan Koizumi watches. Kalani won, 26-16, 25-8, to reach the OIA playoff quarter-finals.

Eugene Tanner | The Honolulu Advertiser

The Falcons, who struggled with injuries early in the regular season, opened OIA playoff action last night with a resounding 25-16, 25-8 victory over visiting Campbell.

Kalani (10-2) won its eighth straight match and advanced to tomorrow's 7 p.m. quarterfinal at Western Division runner-up Pearl City (9-1). Campbell's season ends at 5-6.

Tamari Miyashiro led the Falcons with 10 kills and Keri Hee added five kills and one block.

"We got off to a slow start (this season) but we've picked it up since then," said Hee, a senior middle blocker. "We came back from that and worked hard."

Campbell made Kalani work hard early in last night's match, as the first game was tied 11-11. But Miyashiro slammed three kills to spur a 12-3 run.

In the second game, Miyashiro had four kills as Kalani raced to an 11-2 start. The closest the Sabers got after that was 13-6.

"They overpowered us in the middle and our girls were surprised with their quickness," Campbell coach Kaui Alohikea-Betham said. "(The Falcons) were communicating a lot during the (live) ball, and I think that threw our girls off, too. They're the most verbal team we've played."

Alohikea-Betham also said Kalani's performance showed the strength of the East Division, where the Falcons finished third behind Moanalua and Kahuku.

"We looked at some stats and tried to prepare for their top two or three players, but all six played an awesome game tonight," Alohikea-Betham said. "That tells you how tough Moanalua and Kahuku are."

For Kalani's part, the Falcons are trying to climb back into a position to retain the championship they won last season, the school's first in 31 years. Miyashiro and outside hitter Dara Waialae are back from sprained ankles, and defensive specialist Charly Sampaga is recovering from an injured back.

"We had hard times in the beginning of the season, and we're still trying to find our peak," Kalani co-coach Aven Lee said.

Said Hee: "Finishing third (in the East) is not what we wanted, so now we just have to work harder."

Koreta Gali led the Sabers with four kills and one block.

In other girls playoff action last night, Farrington defeated Nanakuli, 23-25, 25-16, 25-11, and Waipahu defeated Kaiser 25-14, 27-25. Roosevelt beat Kapolei, but game scores were not available.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

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