LAHAINA - If the Maui Interscholastic League has ever had a more electric set of volleyball than the second frame of Hana High School's marathon victory over Molokai on Wednesday night at the Lahaina Civic Center, it had to be a sight to behold.
The 41-minute stanza, which the Dragons took 41-39, featured an eight-point comeback by the Farmers to even the score at 19, then 19 more ties. Molokai had 11 set points, and Hana won it on its eighth with a kill from Maluhia Scott.
The final count in the MIL Division II tournament semifinal was 22-25, 41-39, 23-25, 25-15, 16-14, sending the Dragons (8-4) into a match with Seabury Hall for the tournament title today at 5 p.m. at the Civic Center.
Article Photos
Hana High School’s Blake Kristofferson (right) and Maluhia Scott (obscured) attempt to block a shot by Molokai’s Dhavin Spencer-Basa during the second set of the Dragons’ 22-25, 41-39, 23-25, 25-15, 16-14 victory over the Farmers in the semifinal round of the Maui Interscholastic League Division II tournament Wednesday night at the Lahaina Civic Center.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
"It was crazy, we just managed to come back every time and that's the best thing about it," Hana senior Darius Kaiwi said of the second set, although he could have said the same thing for the match.
Kaiwi's 17th kill was the match-ender, and it came after the Farmers had fought off five match points.
"That one felt the best, like the world was on you and, whoa, " Kaiwi said. "I could not have asked for a better set from Hunter (Perry)."
Perry finished with 50 assists. Rico Estocado had 16 kills.
Molokai coach Bill Dudoit said after the match that because he is starting a family, the match was his last leading the Farmers. His 24 years with the green and white were split about evenly between the boys and girls programs.
"That is one of the best matches I have ever coached, all the way to the last ball," said Dudoit, whose team finishes 6-6. "That is what we try to teach our kids, to never give up, fight to the end. It is just sad that somebody had to lose this one. The second set, I don't know if I have ever seen anything like that. Maybe in the olden days in side-out scoring, but never in rally scoring. It has to be one of the best sets ever, in a long time."
The match lasted 2 hours, 18 minutes.
"I really don't have much to say except that we can't play like this tomorrow," said Hana coach Manuel Oliveira. "We have got to play better. Molokai wanted to win really badly and they battled hard. They fought hard. I knew we were in for a battle and we got one. Never in my life have I seen anything like that second set."
Seabury Hall, the regular-season champion, gave itself a pair of chances to clinch the MIL's lone berth to the D-II state tournament with a quick 25-11, 25-15, 25-19 sweep of Lanai in the first semifinal. The Spartans can claim the league title with a win today, or in a winner-take-all playoff Friday at a site to be determined.
Shane Jacob had 15 kills and four blocks for Seabury (10-2), and Rocky DeLyon had 13 kills. Max DeLyon dished out 35 assists and fired six aces, Blake Rizzo had four blocks and three aces and Travis Taylor added three aces.
Hutch Reymundo had three blocks for the Pine Lads, who finished 0-12.
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
