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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 30, 2008

Kailua advances with win over Castle

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Kailua girls volleyball team will get the rematch it wanted. And the Surfriders won't have to wait long to get it.

Sherie Recca had 13 kills and five aces, and Kayzsa-Ann Konohia and Ashlin Akau each added 10 as Kailua beat Castle, 25-16, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21, last night in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference girls volleyball tournament at Farrington.

"I just wanted to push hard because my team depends on me and the other outside hitters," said Recca, a 5-foot-8 junior. "I wanted to put out as much as I can and do the best I can."

Kailua, the East champion, will play Kapolei for the title tonight at 6 at McKinley.

Kapolei, the West champion, swept Kailua in an earlier tournament game Tuesday.

"We have to play so much harder than we did," Recca said. "We have to give 110 percent. We're not scared. We have to do our hardest."

Kapolei (15-0) is 2-0 in the double-elimination tournament, so Kailua (14-2, 2-1) will have to beat Kapolei twice to win the title. If a second championship match is necessary, it will be played Saturday at 6 p.m. at McKinley.

Castle, the East runner-up, will be the OIA's No. 3 team in the state Division II tournament.

Kailua has defeated Castle in all three meetings this season.

"It was a big win for us," said Kailua coach Mani Taufa'asau.

In the first set, Kailua went on an 8-2 run to take a 17-9 lead. Dancel Williams served the final three points of the surge, including an ace and dig that resulted in a kill.

The Surfriders' largest lead of the set was 21-11 after a Knights' hitting error.

Castle (12-5, 2-2) led the second set 10-7 and scored five in a row with Jaylene Royos serving to go up by eight.

Kailua closed to 19-16, but Malina Kekahuna served four in a row, including an ace, to give the Knights set point. After three consecutive hitting errors, Castle was finally able to end it on a kill by Josell Lilio.

In the third set, Castle led 8-6, but the Surfriders scored seven in a row with Williams serving to take a 13-8 lead.

Kailua held a 17-14 lead before Recca served five in a row, including four aces, to give the Surfriders breathing room.

"She's awesome," Taufa'asau said. "She's very consistent in what she does, very powerful."

Kailua took a 12-4 advantage in the fourth set after Kayelynn Kohatsu served five in a row.

Castle's Tiara Kalapodes later served four in a row to get the Knights within 18-17.

Castle tied it at 19 and 20, but Kailua ended it with a 5-1 run.

Kalapodes and Malie Garcia each had seven kills for Castle.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.