Waimea's Leiko Yamauchi (12) provided 44 assists for the Menehunes in their four-set win. CJ Caraang | SL

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Waimea's Leiko Yamauchi (12) provided 44 assists for the Menehunes in their four-set win. CJ Caraang | SL

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Tied with each team having won one set apiece, Waimea steadied itself to wash out Hana in the final two sets, taking it 25-18, 23-25, 25-12, 25-18 in the opening round of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division II State Championship Wednesday night at the Saint Francis School gym.

In the second set, Hana led 20-12, but Waimea rallied to tie the game at 23. The Dragons would gut out the final two points to tie the match up.

In sets No. 3 and 4, Waimea jumped out to a lead early on and maintained it through the end of each set for the 3-1 victory.

The Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Menehunes (11-3) were led by juniors Gabrielle Peleras and Daysha Nelmida-Rice, who knocked out 18 and 12 kills, respectively. Peleras also had 17 digs while Nelmida-Rice added 14. Senior Leiko Yamauchi set-up 44 assists for her teammates. Nelmida-Rice had six assists as well.

Hana (11-4) — making its sixth-straight state tournament appearance — was also led by a set of juniors.

Nohokula Lind had a team-high 14 kills to go with an equal number of digs. Setter Shaylee Roback put up 32 assists and eight digs. The lone senior Sara-Ann Kanakaole had a game-high 20 digs.

The Dragons play Hawaii Prep (9-10) Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the consolation bracket.

Waimea advances to the quarterfinals round to take on the fourth-seeded OIA champion Nanakuli (6-6) 5 p.m. at Saint Francis.