Eagles apparently do not fly alone.

Hawai'i Baptist Academy completed a year-long group project with a 25-13, 25-16 volleyball victory over Hilo High in the championship match of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division II Tournament last night.

A crowd of more than 300 in Radford High's gym saw the top-seeded Eagles deliver their share of the his-and-her trophy set. HBA won the girls' Division II championship in November.

"The pressure was on," middle blocker Kyle Barretta said. "Once they did that, we knew we had to win one. It was do or die."

The Eagles relied on the basics: Well-placed jump serves to turn the Vikings' side into a six-player scramble; crisp passing, thunderous spikes.

HBA coach Teoni Obrey emphasized jump serves to jump-start the Eagles.

"We have to," Obrey said. "We're not the most athletic team. But we feel if we serve and we pass well, we're a pretty tough team to beat."

The Eagles scored 29 points on plays initiated by their serves. In contrast, the Vikings served only nine points.

The Eagles were able to parlay the Vikings' serves into high passes to setter Matthew Lui, who had his choice of poisons. The Vikings had no answer for bookend attackers Brandon Kaneshiro and Ryan Leung.

Kaneshiro, adorned with his usual black headband and fearless attitude, slammed a match-high 11 kills on 18 swings. Leung, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter who has played competitive volleyball for only two years, had nine kills without an error.

"It's just money," Kaneshiro said of Lui's quick sets. "He puts it exactly where you want it. He gives you one-on-one (situations). He gives you what you want."

Lui, in turn, credited his passers. Lui rarely had to step behind the 3-meter line to launch his jump sets.

"They were good," Lui said of the passes. "I could run anything I wanted. Our hitters were putting balls away."

Hilo coach Vetoann Budgie-Baker conceded her players were "over-excited."

"Too many youthful mistakes," she said, a reference to a senior-free roster.

The Eagles, meanwhile, were an experienced team, despite only one senior starter. But most of their players belong to the Kui Kahi Volleyball Club; some for as many as six years.

The Eagles actually began training last spring. Although some play other sports, they devoted at least three days a week to volleyball training in pursuit of a championship. The Eagles' eyes were on the same prize last year.

"We came up short," Barretta said. "We worked hard for this. This is our payment for our hard work."

The Vikings scored the match's first point, and led 2-1 in Game 1. That turned out to be the last time they would have the advantage on a muggy night.

The Eagles' jump serves forced the Vikings into poor passing. Twice in Game 1, the Vikings had to race out of bounds to save plays.

And when the Vikings managed to launch an attack, the Eagles were ready. Libero Devin Pang had seven digs.

After aloha point — a Hilo pass ricocheted off the ceiling — the Eagles gathered in celebration. They took turns holding the koa-and-metal trophy.

"This," Pang said, "is better than my dreams."