In a high-stakes battle for the BIIF title, HPA and Kaʻū engaged in an unforgettable championship game — a contest that could easily be remembered as one of the most legendary in the league’s history. The match was a seesaw of momentum swings, with both teams having several opportunities to clinch the coveted BIIF gold. Ultimately, it was Ka Makani who emerged victorious, displaying remarkable resilience in the face of adversity and securing their first championship title in the sport since 2021.
HPA won in five sets, avenging their only loss of the season against the Trojans, 25-12, 18-25, 21-25, 25-15, 20-18.
In the packed Koaiʻa Gymnasium, the atmosphere was electric as the fifth set of the match stretched into an intense volleyball equivalent of overtime. With the pressure on and the need to secure victory by a two-point margin, both teams found themselves on the brink of claiming the championship with “aloha ball” moments. It was a nail-biting climax, but ultimately, HPA clinched the title when Mya Pinkert ’25 delivered a decisive kill, sealing their championship victory.
HPA Girls Volleyball head coach Daena Craven has decades of coaching experience on her resume but admitted she had never been involved in a game like that with so much on the line.
“Those are some life lessons right there. Don’t give up. You never know what’s gonna happen,” Craven said. “It was exciting. We never really had control of that fifth game. It could have gone either way, depending on how the ball was going to fall. So there was a bit of luck in a game like that, but we definitely played hard and didn’t give up. I’m super proud of them just for their grit and resilience.”
Craven had nothing but good things to say about Kaʻū, who had players literally flying into the stands to make plays.
“They wanted it just as bad as we did,” Craven said.
Senior standout Brooke Samura ’24 played a pivotal role in HPA’s success, earning the well-deserved title of Player of the Game on the Nā Leo broadcast. After the match, she acknowledged Craven for maintaining her composure during challenging moments, highlighting their coach’s guidance as a key factor.
“Coach Daena always keeps me positive,” Samura said. “Especially during tough times in this game. She kept me up when I felt like I was going down. That says a lot about a coach.”
Craven gave all the credit to her players and the growth they displayed during the year.
“They’re all amazingly talented, athletic, and smart. They are really playing together now and understand that we can’t be individuals,” Craven said. “They’ve really bought in. If someone’s not playing as good as they can try to bring that person up and keep everybody up.”
With the win, HPA advanced to the state tournament on Oahu. Ka Makani finished fifth.