KEALAKEKUA – In an early-season girls volleyball showdown between two of the top teams in Division II, serving proved to be the difference between Konawaena and Hawaii Prep in the Wildcats four-set, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 victory over Ka Makani.
Up two sets to one, Konawaena was tied with HPA at 14 in a tightly-contested fourth set. It was then when sophomore Tiffany Alo stepped up to the service line and notched four aces to power a 7-0 Wildcat run, effectively putting the match on ice.
“I’ve always trusted Tiffany at the service line,” said Konawaena’s coach Ainsley Keawekane. “Even though she’s a sophomore, she’ll step up and she’ll do what she needs to do at the service line.”
Alo wasn’t the only Wildcat who stepped up to create runs with strong serves. Junior Virginia Liberty Tuifua recorded five on the night, including the set-winner in the first and a pair in the second that powered a 5-0 run. Senior Malie Lee also had four aces, including the final one of the night for Konawaena.
Even without one of their top players in junior Parker Lewis, HPA remained competitive throughout the match. Freshman middle Margo Lewis was a force in the front row, regularly forcing the Wildcats out-of-system.
The 1-0 Wildcats will head to Laupahoehoe for their next contest on Saturday, while 0-1 Hawaii Prep is off until Friday, Oct. 29, when they host Laupahoehoe.