Updated at 9:50 p.m., Saturday, November 3, 2007
Kamehameha wins 3rd state volleyball title in a row
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
A vocal crowd of about 2,300 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium watched as the Warriors ranked No. 7 in the nation by prepvolleyball.com finished the regular season and postseason with a record of 20-1. 'Iolani finished at 19-3.
Kamehameha took a 7-3 lead in the first game after a serving error and two hitting errors by 'Iolani. Mahina Haina had a kill and a block to help the Raiders close to 9-8, but Jordan Meredith landed two straight kills to start a 7-2 run that put the Warriors ahead 16-10.
Kanani Herring's kill made it 18-11, and her ace pushed the lead to 21-13.
Leinani Keanini had two kills and Alissa Youart had a kill and a block to help 'Iolani close to 23-18, but Kamehameha finished it with a block by Bekah Torres and a tip kill by Herring.
The Warriors again grabbed control early in the second game, breaking a 4-4 tie with a kill by Meredith and going up 8-4 after a Raiders error.
Meredith and Torres each had two kills to help Kamehameha stretch the lead to 19-11 before 'Iolani staged one final rally.
Chelsea Hardin had two kills and a block as the Raiders clawed back and closed to 19-17. But the Warriors answered with a line shot by Meredith and a middle attack by Torres to make it 21-17.
Kamehameha eventually ended it with a slide-step kill by Torres and an ace by Meredith.
Reach Wes Nakama at 535-2456. Read his blog on prep sports at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.