The Roosevelt boys volleyball team won the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red conference tournament last year, but only after Waianae forfeited the winner-take-all championship match because of an ineligible player used earlier in the tournament.

This year, the Rough Riders throttled Kalani 25-22, 25-20, 25-9 yesterday en route to their second straight OIA title. But this one felt just a little bit better because the boys wrapped it up on the court at McKinley High School and got to celebrate the championship with their fans.

“;I wouldn't really say we won last year because we didn't do it on the court,”; said Roosevelt senior Joby Ramos. “;It means a lot to the program, but this is a lot sweeter.”;

Moanalua won the White conference championship with a 27-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-16 win over Waipahu.

Roosevelt (14-0) has now won four of the last five OIA Red titles, dominance the Rough Riders haven't experienced since winning four straight OIA titles under coach Robin Goo from 1977-80.

The Rough Riders had to beat Kalani (13-4) for the fourth time this season to earn this crown. The two teams met twice in the regular season, once previously in the OIA tournament and again yesterday.

“;It seems like it wasn't meant to be,”; said Kalani coach Kawika Marasco. “;Every time we're close, but they come out with a win. They deserve it, and that's why they're champions.”;

Roosevelt senior hitter/setter Kainoa Mitchell led all players with 12 kills, including six in the third and deciding game. Roosevelt's other outside hitter/setter in the 6-2 offense, Ramos, finished with eight kills on 17 swings with only three hitting errors. He also had three aces.

Kalani senior Angelo Berardy led his team with eight kills.

In the first set, the two teams came out with a lot of energy and traded kill for kill as neither team could pull away. After 11 ties and five lead changes in a 12-12 game, Roosevelt managed to get some separation as Ramos started to heat up with two kills coupled with Kalani's three hitting errors. With a 19-13 lead, the Rough Riders appeared to be poised to cruise to an easy win, but the Falcons fought back to a 20-19 deficit thanks to three kills and Roosevelt's three errors (two hitting and one service).

But Ramos, who struggled through the first set with three hitting errors and one service error, ended the first set with an innocuous kill. After the Roosevelt passer shanked a ball, Ramos bumped a low pass over the net. Caught off-guard, Kalani shanked the easy pass, and Roosevelt captured the Set 1 victory.

Roosevelt, with at least one kill from all six starters, finished with 18 kills and only seven hitting errors in the first set.

“;They were on fire,”; said Roosevelt coach Kaui Mendoca of Kalani in that first game. “;That was just a battle back and forth. That was just a great volleyball game. And credit to Kalani. Once we settled down, we were OK. But Kalani pushed us.”;