No. 1 ‘Iolani topples No. 3 Kamehameha in girls volleyball

Georgie Lee drilled 19 kills, adding three aces, as No. 1 'Iolani outlasted No. 3 Kamehameha 25-15, 18-25, 25-10, 25-21 on Saturday afternoon at Father Bray Athletic Complex.

Elle Arceneaux tallied 14 kills (.459) and middle Annaura Reid-Gillet had nine kills (.543) and three blocks as the Raiders improved to 2-0 in ILH play (9-1 overall). Junior setter Taimane Ainu'u scrambled everywhere, hitting the floor to save passes. She finished with seven kills (.417), 42 assists and one ace. Poema Kalama-Kingma tallied six kills and one ace, while Mary Kate Kawakami had two of her team's 11 aces.

It was a match of major swings between heavyweight sluggers.

"That's how it's always going to be. The good teams will respond well after losing and that's who we want to play against," Ainu'u said. "We don't want to play against a team that backs down after losing. It's really fun playing against them. The second set is not how we want to play. It wasn't our best, but in the third set we persevered."

The Raiders, ranked No. 18 nationally by MaxPreps, were pushed by Punahou on Thursday but left Hemmeter Fieldhouse with a sweep. Saturday's battle tested their ability to move forward quickly.

"They're going to get better, but I think we're also going to get better," said Lee, who hit .459. "It's a mentality. We have an amazing setter who's able to sacrifice everything for her team. That's what it takes and that's what makes us a special team."

Coach Kainoa Obrey's team hosts Mid-Pacific on Tuesday before heading to Las Vegas for the Durango Fall Classic, which begins Friday.

Warriors fans may be intrigued by the way their team took total control of set two, when sophomore Sauimoana Purcell pounded 10 kills in 13 attempts. Her elevation, power and mix of speeds was reminiscent of former Kamehameha great Kanani Danielson.

"It's so early in the season. What Kainoa and what they have in their gym, they're the top team in the state," Kamehameha coach Chris Blake said. "We want to make sure we're still competing. We did a lot of great things in set two. In set three, we were trying to do a little bit too much. They ran out like the good team they are. I'm proud of the way that our girls battled for every point. Their resilience will pay off in the long run. We know that we're right there in the hunt. We're proud of the way they competed today."

Purcell, a 6-foot outside hitter, finished with 16 kills (.333) and one block for Kamehameha (15-6, 1-1 ILH). Emilynn Won and middle Kealoha Lyons had six kills each, while Jahtyana-Ali Samia chipped in five kills. Tiahna Aldeguer dished 22 assists and two aces, and Alayah Wilson had 15 assists, two aces and two kills.

"It felt really good. We were really together a lot and focusing on our side," Purcell said. "It was good to see. It's hard getting in the zone, but it's definitely easier staying in it."

The home team caught a strong start from Lee, turning a 6-all game into a 16-12 lead in set one. Aces by Lee, Ainu'u and Kawakami helped. Lee finished the opening game with five kills (.364) and one ace.

Momentum shifted as Kamehameha seized a 7-3 lead in the second set. Two aces by Aldeguer were key, and the lead was 9-5 before Ainu'u and Lee reconnected. The Warriors were in system almost 100% despite a strong serve game by the Raiders. After Purcell's eighth kill in set two, the lead was 16-9 en route to a set two win.

The pendulum swung back in 'Iolani's favor quickly. The Raiders roared to a 12-3 lead as their serve took command.

'Iolani led 14-9 in the fourth set. Blake called timeout and his team rallied. After a kill by Madison-Rose Marsh, the Warriors were within 14-12. Obrey called timeout and the Raiders went on a 4-0 run for an 18-12 lead and regained control of the match.