PAHOA — Sometimes, the best strategy on the volleyball court is to hang onto your seat and survive the roller-coaster ride, especially if the other team is giving away free points.
Pahoa welcomed the help, in the form of unforced errors, and prevailed over Ka’u 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12 in the first round of the BIIF Division II tournament on Tuesday at the Daggers Gym.
The Daggers (7-7, White Division) play at top-seeded Konawaena (6-6, Red) in the BIIF semifinals on Wednesday.
The season is over for the Trojans (9-4), who left their hitting accuracy back in Pahala and finished with 72 unforced errors (hitting, serving and ball-handling), an average of 15 per set.
The 25-22 third set summarized their struggles. At one point, Ka’u had eight straight unforced errors that pushed Pahoa ahead 10-3.
Later when the score was 20-17, the Trojans had 19 unforced errors. Pahoa’s only natural point was on Kailani Kobayashi-Kawelo’s kill. Ka’u had 20 giveaway points in that game.
The Daggers had 46 unforced errors and only 30 kills. The Trojans pounded 50 kills but negated that production with an assortment of hitting errors — long (most of the time), wide and into the net.
Kobayashi-Kawelo, a junior outside hitter, slammed 14 kills while Kallen Cardines added five and Kealen Sibucao-Kamakeeaina had four kills for the Daggers, last season’s BIIF runner-up.
“It was mind boggling,” Pahoa coach Kahea Rodrigues said. “It was a great match. Both teams did really well. We were lucky at the end to have that extra push to finish the match.
“Overall, Kailani did well. He started slow and then found himself.”
Trevor Taylor ripped 17 kills, Pete Dacalio 10, and Buddy Flores nailed nine kills for the Trojans, who lose the heart of their lineup, including those seniors and setter Jamal Buyuan.
Cowboys advance
Kahua Kualii slammed 12 kills and Kaid Nickl added eight in Kapaau as Kohala beat Honokaa 25-13, 25-21, 25-21 in the other Division II first-round match.
Cole Fuertes added 15 digs for the third-seeded Cowboys (9-5), who will face Hawaii Prep (9-4) in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Waimea.
Hawaii Prep won the regular-season meeting 25-11, 25-17, 25-21 at home on April 15.
The Dragons finished the season 6-7.