Seabury Girls Fall to Konawaena for Div. II Title

By Maui Now Staff

For the second time in three years, the Seabury Hall girls volleyball team missed winning a Division II state championship by the same 15-9 margin in the fifth set.

On Saturday, the Spartans pushed defending state champion Konawaena to the brink, before succumbing 25-19, 19-25, 25-20, 12-25, 15-9 in the New City Nissan Girls Volleyball Championships at the Blaisdell Arena.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II champion Wildcats have been a perfect 18-0 since they won their first state title in four sets a year ago against Hawaii Prep at McKinley gym.

The Spartans were bridesmaids in 2012 to Saint Francis, a team defending its state Division II title like Konawaena was this year.

Molokai’s championship in 2010 is the only state girls volleyball title won by a Maui Interscholastic League school in 47 years of postseason competition, including the last 10 in Division II.

“The girls played solid tonight and it was a back and forth game and it was fantastic to participate in, to coach and to watch. It was a great, back-and-forth game,” Seabury Hall coach Scottie Zucco told Brandon Ching of ScoringLive after the dust settled.

Konawaena was led by Celena Molina’s 17 kills, 31 assists and 24 digs. Sister Chanelle Molina had 20 kills, 18 digs and a service ace, while McKenna Ventura added 11 kills, 17 assists and 10 digs.

In the fifth set, Seabury Hall grabbed the early lead, but had to burn a timeout when Konawaena went ahead 8-5. The Wildcats extended the lead to 10-5 on a kill by Celena Molina, but the Spartans stringed together three points, the last coming on a Konawaena net violation to make it, 10-8.

The Wildcats stepped up to win the big points down the stretch, closing out the set with a 5-1 run.

Seabury Hall junior Shayla Hoeft had 17 kills after four sets, the last one beating Konawaena 25-12 to force a fifth and final set. Hoeft finished with a game-high 22 kills and was one of three Seabury Hall players to be named to the HHSAA Division II All-Tournament Team. Joining outside-hitter Hoeft were middle-blocker Kiki Leutencker and setter Phoebe Fickbohm.

Leuteneker finished with 14 kills, Gabby Ratte had 26 assists, and Fickbohm had 31 digs for the Spartans.

NEW CITY NISSAN HHSAA DIVISION II ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Most Outstanding Player: Chanelle Molina, Konawaena

UT — Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena (9)

OH — Shayla Hoeft, Seabury Hall (11)

MB — Kiki Leutencker, Seabury Hall (12)

MB — Alexandra Jacobsen, Kalaheo (12_

S — Celena Jane Molina, Konawaena (10)

S — Phoebe Fickbohm, Seabury Hall (11)

DS/L — Sara Utsugi, Hawaii Baptist (12)