University High tops Saint Francis in four sets

University High outside hitter Markayisha Masani makes contact with the ball for a kill attempt against St. Francis. Kristen Izumigawa | Special to SL

MAKIKI — Markayisha Masani and Nohealani Ornellas put down eight kills apiece to lead University High to a four-set win over Saint Francis Tuesday afternoon at Punahou School's Hemmeter Fieldhouse. The scores were 27-25, 24-26, 25-16 and 25-22.

Masani, a 5-foot, 7-inch junior outside hitter, had five of her team's 11 kills in the fourth set to help the Junior Rainbows improve to 9-1 in the Interscholastic League of Hoholulu Division II standings. The Saints fell to 7-3, with two of their losses coming against University High.

"It was nice to win the way the girls won today," UHS coach Jon Tom said. "We always seem to go up early and then take it easy, so we're trying to get to the point where we're getting them to finish things earlier."

The Junior 'Bows needed extra time to win the opening game. University rallied from a 25-24 deficit to score the final three points of the set to win 27-25.

The teams exchanged long runs in game two. UHS took a 16-9 lead on an 11-1 run, but Saint Francis answered with a 7-0 run to tie it at 16. The Saints used a late 5-0 run to tie it again at 24, but Masani's only kill of the set gave her team game point before she notched her third service ace of game two to put the Junior 'Bows up two games to none.

Saint Francis separated early in game three and ran away with the set, 25-16.

"The third set we didn't come through on the mental side — we lost it mentally and we had to get it back and it took us the whole set, but you saw in the fourth set we started to get it back when the momentum started shifting to our side and away from their side," Tom said. "The good thing is we got good girls on our side."

The Saints led for much of the early part of game four until UHS used a 7-3 run to tie it at 16. Lacey Satele's kill gave Saint Francis a brief lead, but the Junior 'Bows went on a 7-2 run to seize a 23-19 advantage. Saint Francis scored the next three points — including a pair of kills by Satele, but Taira Kaawaloa put down her seventh kill of the match to set-up Kawai Crisostomo's ace on match point.

"We struggled all the way through — these girls typically play a lot better than they did tonight — and I guess our expectations for our girls are a lot higher than they performed today. I think a lot of nerves had to do with OC16 being here," Tom said.

Masani totaled four aces and one block, Ornellas added two blocks and an ace and Kiana Poomaihealani contributed six kills, three blocks and an ace for University, which won its sixth straight match.

Alyssa Panis registered 11 kills with three aces, Jennifer Lum had 10 kills with four blocks, Malia Luis-Mateo chipped in nine kills, three blocks and an ace and Satele added eight kills with two aces and a block for Saint Francis. The two-time Division-II state champion Saints saw their two-game win streak snapped and will play Le Jardin Saturday.

University swept Saint Francis the first time the teams met on Sept. 10 in the ILH first round. The Junior 'Bows, who are in second place in the eight-team division, play first-place Hawaii Baptist Friday.

Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].