KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena will return to the BIIF Division II Championship game after beating Kohala in four sets Wednesday night behind the net play of standout freshman Anastasia Tuifua and the service game of Mahiehie Kaawa.
The Wildcats, who have won the last two BIIF titles and two of the last three state titles, quickly put away the visiting Cowgirls 25-9, 25-13, 25-27, 25-19 at Ellison Onizuka gym. They will play Hawaii Preparatory Academy in the Division II title game on Friday at 5:30 p.m at Kealakehe High School. Ka Makani defeated Honokaa in straight sets on Wednesday in Waimea, 25-13, 25-9, 25-17.
In the semifinal match against Kohala (12-7) on Wednesday, Tuifua and Kaawa stood out for the Wildcats from the start.
After both teams battled to a 5-5 tie in the opening set, the Wildcats (13-4) were able to sustain a lead behind two kills at center net by Tuifua.
“Anastasia has been dominant in every game she has played for us,” Ainsley Keawekane said. “She is playing with veterans and that helps her confidence. I was excited about the way she played today.”
Kaawa then toed the line with Konawaena up 13-9, and served out the set, picking up three aces along the way.
“When Mahiehie is really focused there is no way to stop her,” Keawekane said. “She can be the service acer on the team when she is on a roll, no doubt about it.”
Wildcat senior captain Celena Molina closed out the set with a well placed kill in the back corner of the court.
Konawaena took a 7-3 lead in the second set as both Molina and Tuifua showed versatility, picking up points at the net and then at the service line. Molina also played well as a setter, drawing praise from her freshman hitter.
“Celena’s sets were on point and really nice,” Tuifua said. “I did really well at the beginning of the game but started getting tired later.”
Later in the second set, Molina sent a hard shot across the net only to have the ball batted back to her. With a heads-up play, she crushed the ball on the second opportunity to put the Wildcats up 17-7. Along the way to the 10 point advantage, Kaawa picked up her fourth ace.
McKaya Ventura gave Konawaena a two set lead off a cross-court kill.
With mostly subs playing for the Wildcats in the third set, both teams battled for an advantage. Kohala built an early 10-6 lead, only to see it disappear after four straight points by Konawaena.
Tied at 17, Kohala sophomore Shania Fuertes picked up a point with a kill that split the Wildcat defense. The Cowgirls added two more points to go up 20-17.
However, with senior Bailey Walters at the line, a four point swing gave Konawaena a one point advantage. The lead was short lived as Kohala tied the set right after.
The Wildcats managed to build a two point lead late in the match, but the Cowgirls came back behind a pair of blocks by sophomore Mikayla Kekoa. A few points later, Kekoa ended the set with a spike.
The Konawaena starters re-entered the game in the fourth set, but struggled to get back into the rhythm they had earlier in the match.
“I had the opportunity to play everybody in the third set but I expected my girls to do better in the fourth set. They came out flat,” Keawekane said “I never got worried, but I got mad. They know how they are supposed to play.”
Kohala, with new life, managed to take an 11-9 lead before the Wildcats found some momentum, taking a 16-11 lead with Kaawa at the line. The Cowgirls managed to cut the deficit to two points, but Konawaena took the match when Kaawa picked up her fifth ace.
“I just try to get it to my spot,” Kaawa said. “I have been playing for four years and it is pretty easy for me now.”
Though Kohala’s run at a BIIF titled ended against Konawaena, they Cowgirls will advance to the HHSAA State Tournament. It’s the first time since 1999 that Kohala has qualified for states.