By BILL O'REAR

Stephens Media

sports@hawaiitribune-herald.com

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HILO — Hemolele fought past RZN 25-23, 25-23 to claim the men’s AA division championship of the 55th Haili Volleyball Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

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About 2,800 fans watched the men’s and women’s AA finals on dual courts at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, capping a weeklong amateur tournament that attracted 126 youth and adult teams from Hawaii and one each from American Samoa and Canada.

In the women’s AA finale, the unbeaten S’Hawaiians defeated HI Intensity of Oahu 25-23, 25-15. The champions were led by former University of Hawaii standouts Kanani Danielson and Aneli Cubi-Otineru.

Hemolele, a Hilo team consisting of players from Big Island Roots and Oahu’s Quiksets, used its dominating hitting and blocking and overall solid play to deny Oahu’s RZN a shot at capturing the title in the division. In winning the championship, Hemolele became the first Hilo team to pocket the AA title in the tournament’s long history, according to longtime USAVB official Elroy Osorio.

Hemolele rode the strong play of outside hitters Andrew Dunn and Isaiah Ekau and setter Shawn Pacquing. Keahi Warfield, Wendell “Sammy” Kaehuaea and Ikaika Marzo added some strong blocking and hitting as Hemolele defeated RZN. Last year, RZN finished runner-up behind Kailua VBC, which opted to not return this year to defend its crown.

RZN, led by former UH libero and Waiakea High star Cory Enriques, as well as Rory Brandt and Ernie Vidinha, battled through each game. But with the match in the balance late, Hemolele always made the key play. RZN also got a spark from four other former Big Island prep standouts, Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Mason Waugh and Isaac DeGuzman and Waiakea’s Ryan Tsuji and Gordon Lacy.

Hemolele’s Andrew Dunn was named the men’s AA division’s most outstanding player, while Ava Samoa’s Marvin Iosefa earned the most valuable player award.

They were joined on the tournament all-stars by Hemolele’s Ekau and Pacquing, Lil’ Braddahs’ Mark Osorio and Jay Hanagami, RZN’s Enriques and Ava Samoa’s Setoa Masoe. CUDAGS earned the division’s team sportsmanship award.

Lil’ Braddahs edged Ava Samoa 25-17, 25-17 for third place.

“It feels great to finally win the men’s AA championship for this region,” Kaehuaea said. “Our team really came together and played well. We’ve been close before, but it feels really good to finally do it, especially before a big, supportive crowd and all of our family and friends.”

In the women’s AA final, Danielson and Aneli Cubi-Otineru provided the firepower and their teammates turned in solid all-around performances to lead the S’Hawaiians to the 25-23, 25-15 win over HI Intensity of Honolulu.

Danielson was selected the division’s MOP, and HI Intensity’s Deven Bukoski was named the MVP. They were joined on the all-stars by the S’Hawaiians’ Aneli Cubi-Otineru and Nia Tuitele, Hilo VBC’s Hillary Hurley, Karma’s Kawena Cubi-Otineru, and HI Intensity’s Andrea Reagan and Poli Olevao. The team sportsmanship award was presented to Hottys.

Hilo VBC defeated Karma (Hilo) 25-19, 26-24 for third place.

Other finals went as follows:

c Men’s A division: Islandwide defeated Ka Ulokoa 25-22, 25-23; Most Outstanding Player: Mikaele Salvation, Islandwide; MVP: Ka Ulokoa; All-stars: Islandwide’s Kelvin Lotovale and Faalialia Mauigoa, Ka Ulukoa’s James Agpoon and Reid Pangelinan, and Strictly Locals’ Jarrett Fujita and Austin Zavala. Pueo was presented the team sportsmanship award. Strictly Local (Oahu) defeated Spikers (Oahu) 25-16, 25-19 for third place.

c Women’s A division: LAC Jammers (Oahu) defeated HI Life (Oahu) 19-22, 24-21, 15-11; MOP: Anastasia Fogatu, HI Life; MVP: Harlee Meyers, Jammers; All-stars: Spikers’ Delores Alaimaleata, HI Life’s Filomena Vaana and Chelsea Sadamoto, Kiakahi’s Shawn Wisneski and the Jammers’ Kehaulani Punzal and Ashley Johnson. HI Life was given the team sportsmanship award. Kiakahi (Kauai) defeated Spikers (Oahu) for third place 25-10, 22-25, 15-12.

c Men’s B division: Hilo’s All Attitude defeated Stoked (Oahu) 25-23, 25-13; MOP: Albert Pacheco, All Attitude; MVP: Kamuela Kalehuawele, Stoked; All-stars: All Attitude’s Donovan Roque and Maka Tandal, Stoked’s Alan Kissinger, Southside’s Daniel Grant-Johnson, and 808 Frixion’s Michael Tabarejo and Julian York. KKVC Ovahs was presented the team sportsmanship award. 808 Frixion (Oahu) defeated Southside Red (Big Island) 22-25, 25-22, 15-13 for third place.

c Women’s B division: Against All Odds (Oahu) defeated Nonaz 17-13, 20-23, 15-13; MOP: Mele Stoner, Against All Odds; MVP: Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama, Nonaz; All-stars: Against All Odds’ Marilyn Abalos and Tina Piedad, Nonaz’s Jadelynn Domondon and Carina Verhulsdonk, Kamalii’s Jamie Iwata and Pa’ahana’s Cassie Chun-Ming. Kalapana earned the team sportsmanship award. Kamalii (Oahu) defeated Paahana 23-20, 20-15 for third place.

c Women’s masters division: Keaukaha Cuzins defeated Red Star 26-24, 23-18; MVP: Lisa Pana-Huanga, Keaukaha; MVP: Rhonda Pangelnan, Red Star; All-stars: No Pressure’s Ketura Waiki, Red Star’s Dale Navalta and Elena Song, Paahana’s Tina Kepa and Keaukaha Cuzins’ Tammy Spaar and April Pana. Puakenekene was presented the team sportsmanship award. No Pressure topped Paahana 24-19, 24-20 for third place.

c Women’s golden masters division: Haili defeated Puakenekene (Oahu) 24-19, 24-20; MOP: Nalani Viveiros, Haili: MVP: Cindy Galieto, Haili; All-stars: Haili’s Terry Maltere, Penny Aipoalani and Mei Ling Bailado and Puakenekene’s Cythia Malani, Pauline Ah Choy and Ellen Wagatsuma. Puakenekene earned the team sportsmanship award.

c Girls juniors 18s division: HI Intensity Hilo defeated Keaukaha Cuzins 25-22, 25-21; HI Intensity Pink edged Hoopa 25-20, 25-21 for third place.

c Girls 16s division: Piopio Bears Paani Pono defeated HI Intensity Black 26-24, 16-25, 15-7; HI Intensity Pink defeated HI Intensity Hilo 25-20, 25-22 for third place.

c Girls 14s division: Keaukaha Cuzins defeated Piopio Bears Polu 24-26, 25-18, 15-13; HI Intensity Black edged Piopio Bears Manaolana Blue 25-20, 25-18 for third place.

c Boys 12s division: Keaukaha VBC defeated Piopio Bears Halah 25-14, 14-25, 15-8; HIVA defeated Keaukaha Cuzins 25-15, 24-26, 15-8 for third place.

c Girls 12s division: HI Intensity Black beat Keaukaha Cuzins 27-25, 25-22; Na Wahine O Hilo edged Piopio Bears Manaolana 25-21, 25-21 for third place.

c Coed 10s division: Keaukaha Cuzins White defeated Piopio Bears Manaolana 26-24, 18-25, 15-11; Na Wahine O Hilo defeated Keaukaha Cuzins Black 25-11, 25-12 for third place.