Posted on: Friday, October 29, 2004

'Aiea breaks through Eastern block in OIA

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The 'Aiea High School girls volleyball team broke through the Eastern Division's stranglehold on the O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals last night, rallying past Roosevelt, 22-25, 25-12, 25-20, at McKinley's Student Council Gym.

The victory advances West champion Na Ali'i (11-0) to tomorrow's 7 p.m. semifinal against East co-champ Kahuku (11-1). East co-champ Moanalua (11-1) meets East No. 3 seed Kalani (11-2) in the other semifinal at 8:30.

Moanalua defeated Farrington, 25-22, 25-15, at McKinley last night. At Pearl City last night, Kahuku routed Waipahu, 25-10, 25-10, and Kalani swept the host Chargers (scores not reported).

Pearl City was the West runner-up, and Waipahu was the West's third seed.

All four of the OIA's state tournament representatives last season came from the East and in 2002, three of the four were East teams.

"We were tired of hearing 'East, East, East,' " said 'Aiea junior Lelani Kleman-Maeva, who had a match-high 24 kills and 14 digs last night. "We didn't want to go 10-0 (in the regular season) and then lose. We worked hard for what we did and we wanted to keep it going. We didn't go 10-0 for no reason, but it's not so much a matter of saying it — it's a matter of doing it."

Na Ali'i was a game away from having its season end prematurely, but rebounded with a resounding game 2 victory. After the Rough Riders (9-4) closed to 9-7, Kleman-Maeva spiked eight kills to spur Na Ali'i to a 10-2 run.

"She was awesome, she just took over the game when they needed her," Roosevelt coach Bryan Camello said.

Kleman-Maeva said she "was just in a zone."

The third game was much tighter, with the Rough Riders tying it 20-20 on Kristen Tanabe's kill. But Konae Purcell scored a kill to make it 21-20 and Roosevelt followed with three straight errors.

Kleman-Maeva, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, ended it with a line shot that was blocked out of bounds. She had only one error in 33 swings, hitting a staggering .696.

Purcell, a 5-9 middle blocker, finished with eight kills, nine digs and two aces.

"She stepped it up when the game was on the line, too," Camello said. "'Aiea hustles a lot and they played real well. They deserved the No. 1 seed in the West."

In the past, that may not have meant as much. But Na Ali'i coach Blythe Yamamoto said Western Division teams are gaining ground.

"So many of the girls in the East play club volleyball in the offseason, and you can tell," Yamamoto said. "Roosevelt's defense is unbelievable. So the East has been better, but for us it's a matter of respect. I think we've closed the gap a little."

CORRECTIONS: Tomorrow's boys quarterfinal matches will pit Kahuku vs. Mililani at 4 p.m. and Kalaheo vs. Nanakuli at 5:30. Also, two Western Division teams — Campbell and Mililani — qualified for last year's state tournament. Different information was given in yesterday's story.

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

O'ahu Interscholastic Association

Yesterday

Girls

Quarterfinals

At Pearl City

• Kahuku defeated Waipahu 25-10, 25-10
• Kalani defeated Pearl City, scores not reported

• Word of Life at Iolani, 10 a.m.
• Mid-Pacific at Hawai'i Baptist, 2 p.m.
• St. Francis-Sacred Hearts winner vs. Punahou (time, site TBA)
• Maryknoll-Christian Academy winner vs. Kamehameha (time, site TBA)