Hawaii Baptist sweeps University Lab to begin season

Hawaii Baptist junior setter Ally Wada attempts a dump attempt against the Jr. Bows. Wada had 21 assists in the Eagles' straight set win. CJ Caraang | SL

Senior outside hitter Keri Lum had a double-double performance of 12 kills and 13 digs to help Hawaii Baptist start off the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II season on a high note.

The Eagles, the defending Division II state champions, defeated visiting University Lab in straight sets at Dan Liu Gymnasium Tuesday night. Hawaii Baptist pulled away to take game one, 25-16 before fending off a late charge by the Jr. Bows to complete the sweep, 26-24.

"It's a good start of the regular season for us," said Hawaii Baptist coach Myles Shioji. "We got a lot of things to work on about getting ready for the next point and such, but I think we did a good job of hanging in there. University (Lab) dug the ball really well at the end there and kept themselves in the match. We have to find a way to overcome adversity a lot quicker.

Lum, who was the ILH D2 Player of the Year two years ago, had a strong serving stretch midway through the opening set to help the Eagles breakaway from the Jr. Bows. Neither team led by more than two points in game one until Hawaii Baptist went on a 7-0 run with Lum serving to take a 18-11 lead.

"She does a great job as a leader so for her to have that little run there it was a huge momentum booster for the team," Shioji said on Lum's serving. "It gave the team a little bit more confidence. It was nice to see that she led that way."

Other players with kills for the Eagles include Brienna Nishimura (five), Britney O'Donnell (four), Kallie Langford (three) and Cameron Hema (two). Junior setter Ally Wada finished with 21 assists and two aces, sophomore defensive specialist Naiya Fujikawa added eight digs and senior libero Kailey Young had 13 digs and four assists to round out the Eagles' contributors.

Key players for the Jr. Bows include Ti Posiulai, who had six kills and two block assists, and Libero Taryn Mau, who finished with a match-high 14 digs.

Hawaii Baptist held a 21-14 lead in set two, but had to hold off a spirited rally by the Jr. Bows down the stretch. With University Lab's fans cheering behind the Eagles' bench and a handful of timely digs, the Jr. Bows were able to climb back to tie the game at 21.

"I think for most of us, when the crowd gets loud, it gets us pumped," said Lum. "We just tried to keep hitting balls no matter what, even if they dig it, we just kept going at it."

The teams would continue to trade points until it was 24-all. Hawaii Baptist took the advantage on Lum's kill from the back row and won the match on a combined block by Hema and Langford.

"I think we did well today," said Lum. "We didn't let as much balls drop as normal and I think we did good on defense. It was harder for us to get kills and stuff because they kept digging our balls in the second set, but I think we did well executing."

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].