Dave Kawada
for Hawaii Digital Sports.com

PHOTOS:
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In solid performances through out the state tournament, Punahou and HBA cruise toward their respective Division I and II state titles.  Both teams did not drop a game in the tournament.  It was a year in which the Buff N Blu and Eagles dominated their division to the point where it was simply a matter of who would come in second.

Division I

The Buff n Blu got past the Kamehameha Warriors 3-0, ending a vey dominant season and state tournament.  Punahou should maintain or improve upon their #3 national ranking by ESPN RISE FAB 50 on ESPN.com.  The Warriors also appeared in the same poll at #9. 

Maddison Mckibbin, who will playing at NCAA runner up USC next year with his older brother Riley, did not disappoint his future coach Bill Ferguson, who was in attandance at Mckinley High School’s Student Council Gymnasium.  Mckibbin had 9 kills and 10 digs while also setting from the back row and receiving 11 serves without an error.

Sophmore Joshua Taylor may be a USC’s recruiting list after tallying 16 kills and hitting .700.

The taller Buff n Blu hitters, standing 6-7, 6-6, and 6-4, simply went over the smaller Kamehameha block.  Tough serving and an intmidating wall at the net forced the Warriors to hit a -.011.

Complete box score

Division II

The HBA Eagles made unprecedented steps this year by being noticed nationally – #7 ranking by ESPN.com  They too steamrolled past their opponents in the tournament.  They defeated Hilo 3-0 in such a methodic fashion that Hilo seemed defeated after game 1.

Ironically, considering their superior performance this season, the future looks bright for the Eagles.  Junior Ryan Leung hit .625 with 17 kills and 3 service aces.  The defense also limited Hilo to hitting only .097, with 4 of the Vikings hitting a negative percentage. 

Complete boxscore

For other scores in the tournament, go to the Official HHSAA website.

ESPN.com RISE FAB 50 POLL