Pearl City holds off Wai'anae in three sets

Pearl City's Jerry Gallardo attempts to put a spike past Wai'anae's Stacen Konohia. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Joseph Hammond had a match-high 14 kills and Cory Quiamzon served six aces Tuesday night as Pearl City held off Wai'anae, 27-25, 25-23, 25-23, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys volleyball playoff action.

The Chargers, seeded No. 5 in the OIA Red Conference Western Division, improved to 8-7 in league play and will face East champion Moanalua (14-0) in today's 6 p.m. semifinal at McKinley's Student Council Gym.

West No. 3 seed Wai'anae (9-6) led 23-19 and 24-21 in the first set before a kill by Hammond, a net violation and a hitting error by the Seariders tied it at 24-24. Another error by Wai'anae put Pearl City up, 25-24, but a Chargers serving error tied it again at 25-25.

But Pearl City took a 1-0 match lead after a kill by Hammond and Josiah DeMello's ace.

Game two also got tight at the end, after the Seariders rallied from a 22-15 deficit to tie it at 23-23, with James Rosa's two kills and two blocks highlighting the rally.

Hammond then landed a crosscourt shot from the right side and Wai'anae hit a ball out to end it.

The Chargers led Game 3, 18-14, before the Seariders rallied again and tied it at 19-19.

A Wai'anae hitting error then broke a 22-22 tie and Pearl City sealed the victory after an ace by Quiamzon and Hammond's cross-court kill.

Rosa finished with 12 kills and three blocks to lead the Seariders, and Werner Nansen added nine kills and two blocks. Sean Chang had 10 kills and DeMello finished with seven kills, one block and three aces for the Chargers.