Kalani Takase | ScoringLive
October 28, 2016, 12:21am
Defending champ Kamehameha cruises past Kapolei
Kamehameha's Kili Robins puts down a kill past the Kapolei block. Peter Caldwell | SLSALT LAKE — Kayla Afoa and Kili Robins each registered a double-double as Kamehameha cruise past Kapolei in straight sets, 25-13, 25-21 and 25-15, at Moanalua Thursday night.
The second-seeded Warriors improved to 15-2 with the win and advanced to face third-seeded King Kekaulike at 5 p.m Friday at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium in a semifinal match of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I Girls Volleyball State Championships.
Kapolei, the Oahu Interscholastic Association's third-place team, fell to 12-3.
Afoa, a 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter, had a match-high 12 kills to go with 16 digs. She also served up two of her team's five aces and added a block assist.
Robins, a 6-foot junior outside hitter, hit .357 with 11 kills on 28 swings and just one error. She also had 18 digs and was in on two blocks.
Kamehameha hit .225 for the match, including a clip of .317 in the opening set.
The Warriors had 73 digs, which coach Chris Blake said was the result of a total team effort.
"The strength of our team is our team and we pride ourselves in first touch and on defense," Blake said. "I think, the thing for our kids to understand, is the coverage and the digging gets us more opportunities to swing and although the back row may be the ones to get the credit, a lot of it is because of the front, which makes it easier for the back to do their job. Our setters distributed the ball well and we were able to convert a lot of those plays today."
Lexis Akeo had 34 assists to go with six digs for the Warriors.
Kapolei hit just .074 for the match and was led by Jayleen Abregana's six kills.
Anela Pakaki-Pias posted a match-high 21 digs and Olivia Transfiguracion added 19 assists with 13 digs. Tiffany Mook and Taylor Bell each chipped in with 11 digs for the Hurricanes, who will play Kalaheo in a 7 p.m. consolation match Friday at Moanalua.
Kapolei lost in the state quarterfinal round for the second consecutive year. It was swept by second-seeded Moanalua last season.
Kamehameha, the defending state champion, is making its 15th straight state tournament appearance.
