Down 6-2 in the final set, the Trailblazers of Sierra Canyon got Lucky.
Lucky Fasavalu, their poised senior setter, came through with two key aces during a pivotal rally as Sierra Canyon, the nation’s top-ranked team, battled back for an 18-25, 25-11, 15-9 win over ‘Iolani for the Ann Kang Invitational championship on Saturday afternoon.
‘Iolani, the No. 1 team in the Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top 10, forced the talented Trailblazers into adversity. Their five future Division I players regrouped after set one and went to another level. Kendall Omuruyi went into overdrive with five of her six blocks in the second-set comeback. The Nebraska commit also had five kills.
“We decided that we needed to play calm. The crowd was loud and we had to focus,” Omuruyi said. “In between the first and second set, I prayed and the Lord gave.”
‘Iolani coach Kainoa Obrey is glad his team never backed off, even with Omuruyi doing incredible things.
“You don’t see that kind of length and athleticism at the high school level. Our kids just stayed aggressive and went after it. You play too careful, (Sierra Canyon) will just pass it up and get swings,” he said. “It worked out. Our kids continued to battle.”
Fasavalu also has an almost ethereal sense of composure as her team’s court general.
“We feel amazing and blessed,” said Fasavalu, who finished with 18 assists, three kills, three aces and a block. “It’s just being consistent, giving my team the chance to receive the ball.”
Obrey noted Fasavalu’s elite skill at serve.
“She has consistency and she does a good job of changing speeds, and she places it well. Full control of where she’s going,” he said.
Fasavalu, a Missouri commit, was named the tournament MVP. She was joined by teammates Hanna McGinest (Texas Tech), Eva Jeffries (Texas Tech) and Omuruyi. The Trailblazers got a gritty effort from McKenna McIntosh (USC), who suffered a high-ankle sprain on Thursday but played through to the end.
“A true team is going to have different people step up at different moments. They have this really good way of knowing when that’s going to happen. With McKenna being on the floor with her ankle at 60%, she sacrificed everything for her team,” said Stefanie Wigfall, now in her 14th season as head coach at Sierra Canyon. “This is a team of incredibly strong, young women. Some of the most outspoken and gritty kids. They’re figuring out how to channel all of that strength. It was too loud in this gym. All I could do was support and say small things here and there. I love these kids. On the good days, the hard days, they make me a better coach. This crowd was incredible for ‘Iolani. We’ve been coming here for such a long time, and now we finally have one (title).”
Jeffries tallied 10 kills and four blocks, while McGinest added seven kills and a block. McGinest is a daughter of former New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, who was in attendance at the tournament.
Sierra Canyon brought out the best in ‘Iolani, which was on the verge of collapse by the end of the second set. Instead, the Raiders dug deep and turned the tables with a 6-2 lead in set three to stun the Trailblazers.
Taimane Ainu‘u dished 22 assists, adding two kills, two aces and one block for the Raiders (7-1). Georgie Lee (.300) and Poema Kalama-Kingma (.500) had eight kills each, while Elle Arceneaux continued her ascent as a key finisher with seven kills (.636).
“We know Taimane is just so incredible. We know that the defense of ‘Iolani is going to be so tough. They pop everything up. If you don’t stay the course and hammer away, they will tire you out,” Wigfall said. “Such a great team and a great coach in Kainoa. Playing Hawaii teams makes you better. You’ve got to be tough.”
Ainu‘u, Lee, Kalama-Kingma and libero Mary Kate Kawakami were also selected to the all-tournament team.
Also selected: Isabella Basilio and Lily Vandeweghe of Mira Costa (Calif.); Sydney Whisenton and Zoe Fuqua of Cornerstone Christian (Texas). The Kang Ohana One Team Award went to Highland Park (Texas).
Semifinal: ‘Iolani 2, Mira Costa 0
Ainu‘u tallied 18 assists, four kills, one ace and one block as the Raiders outlasted the Mustangs 25-20, 25-23.
Hawaii Prep World
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