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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 23, 2008

Farrington, Mililani advance in OIA

Photo gallery: OIA Girls Volleyball Playoffs

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Farrington girls volleyball coach Reagan Agena finally found what he was looking for last night.

He discovered his team has great balance and composure, and can knock off a quality opponent.

Fraustina Sagapolu had 12 kills, Junitta Fonoti added 11 and Keui Remigio had 10 as Farrington beat Pearl City, 25-18, 13-25, 27-25, 27-29, 15-8, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference volleyball tournament at Radford.

"We had our ups and downs throughout the season," Agena said. "There was something missing. I guess we finally found it."

Farrington (9-6) wrapped up a state Division I tournament berth and will play at McKinley tonight at 7:30 in the double-elimination OIA tournament.

"Just knowing we didn't want tonight to be our last night to play, so we had to push more," Remigio said.

The fifth set was tied 6-6 before Farrington, the East's No. 4 team, took over. Fonoti had three kills in the set, including the match-ender.

"I feel very excited," Junitta said. "We're ready for McKinley tomorrow."

In the first set, Farrington got out to a 12-2 lead behind tough serving, which included four aces.

Pearl City, ranked No. 9 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, stabilized its passing and tied it 15-15 on Keani Passi's kill.

The Governors finished the set on a 6-0 run behind a flurry of Pearl City errors. Farrington had just one kill during the spurt and the Chargers contributed two hitting errors, a service error, a lift and a miscommunication allowed the ball to fall on set point.

Pearl City (10-5) rolled in the second set behind Tonisha Buford, who had seven kills without an error and two aces. The Chargers had 15 kills and just one hitting error in the set.

The third set had 14 ties and nine lead changes. Pearl City, the West's No. 3 seed, led 20-15, but Farrington's Remigio served five in a row to give her team a 22-21 lead.

Farrington won the set on consecutive hitting errors by the Chargers. The Governors won on their second set point; Pearl City served for the set once.

Farrington took a 6-0 lead in the fourth with Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo serving. Fonoti had three kills during the run.

Pearl City tied it 13-13 and eventually took a 19-16 lead after three consecutive Farrington hitting errors. The set was tied at 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.

The Chargers won the set on Marie Fujii's kill and an ace by Buford. Pearl City served for the set three times and Farrington twice.

TROJANS SWEEP

Opponents of the Mililani girls volleyball team normally had to just worry about Candace Soares hitting from the left side.

Now, she's taking her heavy hitting to both sides.

Soares, a 5-foot-9 senior, had 16 kills with just two hitting errors as Mililani defeated Roosevelt, 25-22, 25-11, 25-15, last night at Radford.

"She brought her game tonight," said Mililani coach Val Crabbe. "Moving her around is really good. We played her at opposite (right side) and outside hitter (left side). We didn't really do that during the season. We just left her on the outside. She has more options."

Soares actually got off to a slow start with her first kill giving Mililani a 19-18 lead in the first set.

"I will play wherever," Soares said. "It takes a lot to switch positions, but I like moving around."

Mililani, tied for 10th in The Advertiser poll, improved to 10-4, and qualified for the state DI tournament. It will play 'Aiea at 6 tonight at McKinley.

Roosevelt, the East's No. 5 team, ended its season at 4-11

Natasha I had eight kills and four aces, and Olivia Freitas added eight kills and two block assists for Mililani.

In the first set, Taylor Pupuhi served seven in a row as Roosevelt took an 8-1 lead. Leinaala Batalona had three kills and Pupuhi had an ace during the surge.

"I think we started slow," Soares said. "At the end we picked it up. We really wanted it."

Soares served six in a row to get Mililani within 12-10, and the Trojans tied it at 15 on I's kill. Soares' three straight kills gave Mililani the lead for good at 21-18.

Mililani, the West runner-up, took a 4-0 lead in the second set with Kelsey Corneilo serving and was never threatened. I served the final six points of the set, including three aces.

Freitas had six kills without an error and Soares added four without an error for Mililani, which had 15 kills and four hitting errors in the second set.

In the third set, Roosevelt kept it close before the Trojans finished with a 13-5 run. Soares had eight kills in the set.

"They played consistent ball and executed. We didn't," Roosevelt coach Rudy Sambrano said. "It's a basic thing."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.