Running its middle hitters as much as possible and playing with a brand-new lineup, the Waimea boys volleyball team recovered from a mid-match lapse to advance out of the first round.

Quinn Gonsalves had 14 kills and Keaka Canute added 12 as Waimea defeated Honoka'a, 25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18, in yesterday's first round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division II State Championships at Farrington's Richard Kitamura Fieldhouse.

Waimea (9-0), the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion, advances to play fourth-seeded and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Moanalua (11-3) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal at Farrington.

"It's a lot pressure off of us," said Waimea senior setter Jared Matsumoto. "We were nervous coming into this."

Kapena Esquerra led the Dragons (9-5) with 12 kills and El Tabuldo added 11.

Playing without one of its starting hitters and libero, Waimea cruised through Sets 1 and 2. Waimea benefitted from a middle attack that's run more often than other teams, with middles Brendan Cristobal and Kalen McCracken combining for 15 kills.

"We're lucky to have a good setter and we tell him to run the middle every time," Waimea coach Tony Magaoay said. "The other team is not expecting the middle to be that much. (Honoka'a) did good, they adjusted to our middle in the third set."

The Menehunes rallied for a 20-16 lead against a fired up Dragons squad in Set 3, then watched the Dragons score seven straight to pull away.

"I'm surprised we didn't stay like that in the third game," Matsumoto said of his team's performance in Sets 1 and 2. "That's how we usually play, that's how we're supposed to play.

"We just had to calm down and focus on our passing and run plays."

Waimea rallied from a 14-10 deficit in Set 4 to lead 18-16. After the Dragons closed to 18-17 on Tabuldo's kill, the Menehunes scored four straight to seal the win.

PAHOA 3, KAPOLEI 0:

Jonathan Viernes had 10 kills and Isaiah Ekau had nine as the Daggers defeated the Hurricanes, 25-16, 25-18, 25-14, in a first-round match at Kalani.

Pahoa (10-5) plays No. 2 Hilo (13-1) in today's 7 p.m. quarterfinal at Kalani.

Telnoti Mafi led Kapolei (7-9) with six kills.

KOHALA 3, KAIMUKI 0:

Jeffrey Medeiros and Ulana Sylva had 11 kills each to lead the Cowboys past the Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-15, 25-15, in a first-round match at Farrington.

Kohala (11-5) plays defending champion and top-seeded Hawai'i Baptist (16-1) in today's 7 p.m. quarterfinal at Farrington.

Rodney Maui had seven kills for Kaimuki (6-9).

WAIPAHU 3, LE JARDIN 1:

Duketoa Tili had 20 kills and 11 digs to help the Marauders hold off the Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-21, 31-33, 25-23, in a first-round match at Kalani.

Regan Prestidge added 18 kills for Waipahu (10-5), which plays No. 3 Seabury Hall (9-1) at 5 p.m. today at Kalani.

Kalani Soeda had 21 kills and 11 digs and Maunakea Coelho had 15 kills for the Bulldogs (6-12).