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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 2, 2006

HIGH SCHOOLS
Wai'anae beats 'Aiea for DII title

Preps Division II volleyball photos

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wai'anae's Ethan Pimental, left, and Kaena Keiki celebrate the win that improved their record to 13-0.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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The Wai'anae boys volleyball team won the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division II title last night, and to celebrate the team went to ... (drum roll, please) ... McDonald's.

Actually it's a team tradition and the undefeated Seariders aren't about to mess with a good thing.

Robert Mokiao had 16 kills as Wai'anae beat 'Aiea, 18-25, 25-20, 25-19, last night at Farrington.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world. I never had a chance to be an OIA champion," said Mokiao, who added the team either eats at McDonald's or JACK in the Box after matches.

Wai'anae (13-0) will be the OIA's top seed in the state tournament, Nov. 13 to 16. 'Aiea and Kalani also will represent the OIA.

Wai'anae, the West's top seed, dropped the first game because of shaky passing and eight hitting errors.

The game was tied at 5, but 'Aiea (8-5) took control with a 16-7 run.

"It's a first-time experience for them," Wai'anae coach Georgieann Keiki said. "That's why they started off a little slow, they were so nervous. But eventually they played the game they know how to play."

In the second game, the Seariders led 19-16 before Mokiao got a block and two consecutive kills to extend the lead to six.

"The second game we knew they were going to bring it and we brought it back," Wai'anae's Kevin Fonseca said.

Wai'anae's Jesse Lafua opened the third game with a kill, and three consecutive double blocks made it 4-0 Seariders.

The advantage reached 10-3, and the closest 'Aiea, the West's No. 2 seed, could get the rest of the way was three points.

Na Ali'i fought off two match points, before Fonseca ended it when he bumped the ball over the net and a miscommunication by 'Aiea allowed it to fall.

The Seariders had 27 kills and just eight hitting errors in the final two games. They had nine blocks for the match.

"Our defense in the back wasn't picking up the balls," 'Aiea coach Erin Okamoto Coker said. "We closed down the line and they hit the angle."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.