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The Honolulu Advertiser

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

HILO, Hawai'i — Effectively using every one of its many powerful weapons, Kamehameha won its third straight New City Nissan/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Girls Volleyball Division I Championship tonight with a 25-18, 25-19 sweep of 'Iolani.

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.