Eagles surge past Monarchs; will face Le Jardin for D2 crown


ScoringLive staff
October 27, 2017, 10:48pm

Hawaii Baptist's win in a five-set thriller sets up a rematch of last year's HHSAA D2 state title against Le Jardin. Spencer Honda | SL

MANOA — For the third year in a row, it will be Hawaii Baptist and Le Jardin in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II Girls Volleyball State Championship game.

In the early evening match of a New City Nissan/HHSAA D2 Girls Volleyball semifinal doubleheader at Saint Francis School gym, it was a battle of league champions with ILH-champ Le Jardin (15-1) topping the OIA champion Nanakuli Golden Hawks (7-7) in straight sets, 25-17, 25-8, 25-7.

The nightcap featured a back-and-forth five-set affair between the ILH's second and third place finishers. After falling behind 2-1, the Eagles (13-4) surged past the Monarchs (13-7) to take the match, 25-18, 25-27, 15-25, 25-15, 15-6.

Hawaii Baptist and Le Jardin will be meeting for the second time this season. The Bulldogs bested the Eagles, 2-1, in mid-September in first round ILH play.

Over the last three seasons, the Eagles lead the series, 5-3. HBA won the title against LJA in straight sets in 2015. Last year, the Bulldogs won in five sets.

The two will square off Saturday night in a rubber match at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena at 5 p.m. for the HHSAA D2 koa trophy.

Hawaii Baptist is chasing its fifth state title while Le Jardin is chasing its second, hoping to go back-to-back.