It was all about being relentless and determined for Hawai'i Baptist's Sarah Palmer last night against Word of Life.

Without those qualities, she wouldn't have been able to put on the super-human performance that volleyball fans won't soon forget.

Palmer kept swinging away against Word of Life and after 95 attempts, including 34 kills, it was finally enough for the Eagles to knock out the Firebrands, 26-28, 25-19, 25-27, 25-21, 15-13, in the final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Volleyball Division II State Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Palmer, a 5-foot-11 junior, was consistent all night for Hawai'i Baptist, which retained its state DII title. She had eight kills in the first set, six in the second, nine in the third, seven in the fourth and four in the fifth.

"I really feel good," said Palmer, who pumped her fists after every one of her kills. "I feel the adrenaline. I can't feel anything."

Palmer finished with nine hitting errors and hit .263.

Hawai'i Baptist coach Myles Shioji would have preferred to set Palmer less, but really had no choice.

"She's clutch. She's big-time," Shioji said. "I wouldn't have given her 95 sets in my wildest dreams, but the situation dictated it."

C'era Oliveira had 14 kills for Hawai'i Baptist, but also had 14 errors. No other Eagles player had more than five kills.

"Sarah, she brought it out today," said Oliveira, a 5-7 junior. "I was cold. We all needed her."

Hawai'i Baptist, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and No. 1 seed, led the fifth set 7-4, but Word of Life tied it after a kill by Taylor Kaalele, ace by Crystal Powell and another kill by Kaalele.

The Firebrands took a 12-10 advantage, but the Eagles tied it at 13-13. Palmer ended it with consecutive kills.

"We wanted to prove we could do it again," said Palmer of repeating as state champion. "We tried to stay focused and play for each other."

Kayla Kawamura had 26 assists and Chelsie Mow added 18 for Hawai'i Baptist. Libero Kelly Chang had a match-high 35 digs.

Hawai'i Baptist, which beat Seabury Hall in last year's final, also beat Castle and Kailua earlier in this tournament.

Powell had 22 kills in 88 attempts to lead Word of Life, the ILH runner-up.

During the ILH regular season, Hawai'i Baptist swept Word of Life twice.

"I'm really proud of them," said Word of Life coach LeeAnn Satele of her team. "We worked together as a team. We were so determined to win every point."

In the first set, Hawai'i Baptist led 19-15, but Word of Life went on a 5-0 run with Momi Mariani serving to take a one-point lead.

There were six ties the rest of the way with Hawai'i Baptist (19-2) serving for the set three times. A kill by Word of Life's Kainoa Ocasek tied it at 26 and two more kills by Ocasek ended the set.

Ocasek had 10 kills in the set for the Firebrands.

Word of Life led the second set 14-9 before the Eagles took control. A 7-0 run with Chang serving gave Hawai'i Baptist, ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, a 19-15 advantage. The Eagles led 22-19 and scored the final three points on a kill by Oliveira, double block by Taryn Bohan and Brianna Lovett, and kill by Bohan from the right side.

In the third set, Word of Life (15-7) went on a 15-6 run to take a seemingly comfortable 22-12 lead. But the Eagles' Mow served nine in a row to tie it. Palmer had three consecutive kills to bring Hawai'i Baptist within 22-21. Leinaala Mussel's kill tied it.

A kill by Powell and Eagles' hitting error gave Word of Life set point at 24-22. Hawai'i Baptist erased them with a kill by Palmer and Firebrands' hitting error.

The teams sided-out to tie it at 25-25. A Hawai'i Baptist hitting error gave the Firebrands their final set point, and Ocasek ended it with a kill.

"That showed where we've come from," Satele said. "In the past, we would lose it and let it slip away."

In the fourth set, Hawai'i Baptist took a quick 10-3 lead behind Chang's two aces and two kills by Palmer.

The Firebrands got as close as 13-12 and trailed 21-19. Consecutive hitting errors by Word of Life gave Hawai'i Baptist a 23-19 advantage, and the Eagles got their final two points on a double block by Mow and Lovett, and kill by Palmer.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertis er.com or 525-8041.

THIRD PLACE

Kayzsa Konohia tallied eight kills and seven digs as Kailua defeated Moloka'i, 25-23, 25-16, for third place.

Ashlin Akau added six kills for the Surfriders (16-3, 2-1). Kailana Ritte-Camara led the Farmers (12-4, 1-2) with seven kills.

FIFTH PLACE

Marie Nataliela had a match-high 13 kills and hit. 417 as Kapolei swept Castle, 25-18, 25-18, for fifth place.

Tehani Kaaihue had five kills and hit .455 for the Hurricanes (18-1, 2-1). Tiara Kalopodes-Faagata and Malie Garcia scored five kills apiece for the Knights (14-7, 1-2).

CONSOLATION FINAL

Wailana Spangler had eight kills as Seabury Hall defeated Honoka'a, 25-20, 25-23, in the consolation final.

Kanani Santos and Kate Shoemaker tallied six kills apiece for the Spartans (11-5, 2-1). Ashley McDaniel had six kills for the Dragons (15-6, 1-2).