Farrington held off slow-starting Kamehameha-Hawai'i, 25-20, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24, last night in the first round of the New City Nissan/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Girls State Volleyball Championships.

Farrington, the third-place team in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, improved to 12-7 in the regular and postseason and will face three-time defending state champ and No. 1 seed Kamehameha (17-2) in tonight's 7 o'clock quarterfinal at the Warriors' Kekuhaupi'o Gym.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up, fell to 12-5 and into the consolation bracket.

Govs middle blocker Keui Remigio's kill broke a 9-9 tie in the first set and Farrington was able to hold a slim lead until a 4-1 run opened it to 22-18. Fenumiai Tofilau and Junitta Fonoti later finished the set with back-to-back kills.

The Governors started strong again in the second set, jumping to a 14-6 lead highlighted by Remigio's three kills and three net violations by the Warriors. Kamehameha-Hawai'i cut it to 14-10, but Farrington answered with three straight kills and the Warriors could not get closer than five points the rest of the way.

"We only have two starters back from last year, so I don't know if it was state tournament jitters, or what," Kamehameha-Hawai'i coach Tammy Lee said. "After the first two games, we did a little cheer to pep ourselves up, and then we went back to basics."

The Govs jumped to a 5-1 lead in the third set, but this time the Warriors rallied and later tied it at 19-19. A net violation gave them a 22-21 lead, and Kayla Lacaran-Costales' kill ended it.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i eventually built a 22-18 lead in the fourth set, but Farrington clawed back and tied it at 23-23 helped by Valerie Lesu's two blocks and a close lift call on the Warriors. A kill by Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo gave the Governors match point at 24-23, but Victoria Hi'ilani Evans-Bautista tied it again with a kill from the back row.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i then whiffed on a kill attempt, and a Farrington dig went over the net and landed just inside the serving line to end the match.

"It's almost like we're uncomfortable going only three games," said Govs coach Reagen Agena, whose team is coming off several five-set matches. "I think (the Warriors) saw us relaxing."

MOANALUA SWEEPS 'AIEA

Lahela Kaili-Laroya had 13 kills as Na Menehune swept Na Ali'i, 25-18, 25-18, 25-22, at Kekuhaupi'o.

Moanalua, the OIA runner-up, improved to 13-5 and will play No. 4 seed and Maui Interscholastic League champ Kamehameha-Maui (13-0) in today's 5 p.m. quarterfinal at Kekuhaupi'o. 'Aiea fell to 13-4 and into the consolation bracket.

Na Menehune broke a 13-13 tie in the first set when Ashley Asing's dig went over the net and fell in, starting a 7-2 run.

Na Ali'i led 9-5 in the second set but Moanalua rallied to tie it at 11-11 and later took a 17-16 lead on a kill by Kaili-Laroya. Kaylee Ponce's kill put Na Menehune up 22-17 and the set ended on a lift call and hitting error by 'Aiea.

Na Ali'i got as close as 23-22 in the third set, but Carsen Mata ended it with a kill and ace.

"We all told ourselves we don't want to go five games again," said Kaili-Laroya, citing Moanalua's three consecutive five-set matches last week.

"They definitely got more sharp," 'Aiea coach Blythe Yamamoto said of Na Menehune.