The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division I boys volleyball season wrapped up Wednesday night with a couple of matchups on the eastern part of the isle. Playoffs are slated to begin 6 p.m. Monday for semifinals, followed by the championship match at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hilo High School. The top-four teams in the division will qualify for a playoff berth.
KEALAKEHE 3, KEA‘AU 1
Kealakehe and Kea‘au boys volleyball matched up for the third time this season Wednesday night in the Cougars’ home gym. The Waveriders won in four sets.
Kealakehe won the opening two sets 25-20 and 25-22, but Kea‘au made a statement by winning the third frame 25-15. Nonetheless, the ‘Riders responded in the fourth and final set — winning convincingly 25-10 to seal the deal.
Ending the regular season on a high note, Kealakehe will have the No. 3 seed in the DI tournament — slated to play No. 2 Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i at 6 p.m. Monday in Kea‘au. The two teams will face off for a championship berth. The Cougars season has ended after finishing fifth overall in DI.
HILO 3, WAIAKEA 0
Hilo boys volleyball collected its ninth straight win by handling Waiakea in straight sets Wednesday in the Warriors’ home gym.
The Vikings won their sets in 25-13, 25-18 and 25-21 in the quick victory.
Now at 10-1 and heading into the BIIF DI playoffs with the right momentum, Hilo will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and will rematch No. 4 Waiakea again in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Monday in the Vikings’ gymnasium. It will be the fourth meeting of 2024 between the two squads, with Hilo being 3-0 thus far. The match will be single elimination.