KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Moanalua's Resina Nataniela was roofed by Kalani's Puahone Paia in yesterday's match at Moanalua Gym.
Kalani hands
Moanalua first loss
Kalani took sole possession of first place in Oahu Interscholastic Association East Division girls volleyball last night by sweeping previously undefeated Moanalua 25-20, 25-23 last night.
The host Menehunes (7-1) led for much of Game 1, but the Falcons (8-0) put together a solid run to take the momentum that they retained for the rest of the match.
"It was the first time we were really challenged this season," Moanalua coach Thomas Lake said. "Our girls were anticipating playing against Kalani so much that they couldn't settle down and relax enough. Still, we played great."
Led by the hitting of junior Alisa Hout and senior Kepua Lee, the Menehunes built a12-9 first-game lead, but Kalani fought to tie it at 15 and then scored eight straight points on Tamari Miyashiro's serve and Marisa Okamoto's setting for a commanding 23-15 bulge. Miyashiro, Puahone Paia and Dara Waialae all had kills in the crucial rally, and Amber Kanoa also scored when her block fell in for a point.
The Menehunes cut it to 24-20 before Paia's kill clinched the first game.
Kalani coach Aven Lee thought her players could have ended both games a lot quicker.
"We can do a better job of finishing," she said. "Instead of relaxing with a lead, we should be really getting after it.
"Okamoto did a great job on her placement of sets. She really put it up there and gave our hitters the most advantageous spots to get a kill."
Miyashiro's three kills and Okamoto's two aces gave the Falcons a quick 5-1 lead in the second game. Kalani benefited from Keri Hee's blocks and the back-row play of Waialae and Krystie Vea as the lead increased to 19-10.
But Moanalua made it extra tough for the Falcons to clinch the match, outscoring them 13-6 the rest of the way. With kills from Kepua Lee on sets from Kathleen Yee and Shanyn Katada along with scoring blocks from Courtney Adaro, the Menehunes scratched back to make it 24-18. Hout then blasted home three kills to shave the Kalani lead to one, 24-23. Savanah Omoso also helped out in the run by serving six straight points, but her seventh serve went out to end the match.
"We were really pushing to beat Kalani," Hout said. "We got really fired up with intensity at the end. But they're a really good team that plays excellent defense -- definitely the best team we've played so far."
Okamoto was impressed with Moanalua's digging.
"They picked up a lot of really tough balls," she said. "And they gave us a good game. But our hitting was awesome and everyone contributed."
Moanalua has key matches at home against Roosevelt (6-1) on Saturday and at Kahuku (6-1) on Wednesday. Kalani's final three regular-season matches are against teams with losing records.
