Hawai'i Baptist's Sarah Palmer signed to play college volleyball at Texas and will play either libero or setter.

Last night against Kailua, Palmer looked plenty good enough to play at hitter at the next level as well.

Palmer had 19 kills and 12 digs as Hawai'i Baptist beat Kailua, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20, in the semifinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division II State Championships at Farrington.

"Sarah put the team on her back," said Hawai'i Baptist coach Myles Shioji. "We tried to spread the offense. Every time she got the set, she would go for the kill."

Hawai'i Baptist, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and No. 1 seed, will look to defend its state DII title tonight against Word of Life at 6 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I'm really proud of the girls," Shioji said. "This is the payoff for working hard all season."

Palmer, a 5-foot-11 junior, had six kills in the first set, five in the second, and eight without an error in the third for Hawai'i Baptist, ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll.

"I just try to pump the players up," she said. "Get them pumped for the game."

Hawai'i Baptist libero Kelly Chang also turned in a solid performance with 22 digs. She also did a good job keeping Kailua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, off-balance with her short serves.

"I just told myself in the middle of the second game to not let any ball touch the floor," Chang said.

Kailua's best chance to take a set was in the second when it led 14-7. It was 16-9 when the Eagles went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the set at 17-16. Kailua (16-4) had four hitting errors during the surge.

It was tied six more times with the final one coming at 23-23. Hawai'i Baptist (18-2) pulled it out after a kill by Palmer and Surfriders' hitting error.

"It was just one of those things," said Kailua assistant coach Gavin Kepa. "You don't win everything every time."

In the first set, there were 11 ties and six lead changes.

Hawai'i Baptist's Palmer had a kill to tie it for the final time at 16. Another kill by Palmer, a double block by Palmer and Leinaala Mussel, and Chang's ace put the Eagles up 19-16. After a pair of Hawai'i Baptist hitting errors, a 5-0 run with Chelsie Mow serving gave the Eagles set point at 24-18.

In the third, Hawai'i Baptist went on an 8-4 run to take a 24-18 lead. Kailua's Kayzsa Konohia had consecutive kills, but the Eagles ended it on a kill by C'era Oliveira.

"It feels awesome getting back to the championship match again," Palmer said. "We're looking to prove we can defend our title."

Konohia had 14 kills to lead Kailua, which will play Moloka'i for third place at 3 p.m. today at the Stan Sheriff Center.