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Red Raiders return
to the top
The Oahu Interscholastic Association girls volleyball championship went home on a red caravan last night.
Kahuku, on the strength of a multiple attack and devastating block, overwhelmed Moanalua 25-19, 25-17 to capture the OIA title for the second time in three years.
Camilla Ah-Hoy pounded 10 kills to lead the way, but it was a solid, balanced effort by the Lady Raiders that made the difference before a raucous crowd at McKinley Student Council Gym. Lily Latu and Ane Vea added six kills apiece.
Latu also had seven digs and three blocks for Kahuku (13-1), ranked No. 4 in the Star-Bulletin Girls Volleyball Top 10.
"The first time we played Moanalua, Ane didn't play too well. I told her, nobody knows about you," Kahuku coach Mona Ah-Hoy said. "She had a really good practice yesterday, so I expected her to step up today."
Kahuku earned a first-round bye in the state championship, which will be held at King Kekaulike High School on Nov. 10-13.
"Our defense got better, and our blocking, especially," Camilla Ah-Hoy said. "I knew we'd take it if we worked hard. We're ready for states now."
Third-ranked Moanalua (12-2) beat Kahuku in regular-season play, but the Lady Raiders brought a big, red wall of defense last night. They limited Moanalua's powerful outside hitter, Danie Hout, to only seven kills.
"It's gonna be good motivation for us," Hout said. "It's never a good feeling to lose, and we didn't play to our potential. States is our next big title and that's what we're going for."
Hout, a senior, hustled for six digs, but was constantly double-teamed, even triple-teamed by the Kahuku block.
"We didn't do too well the first time keying on Danie, but the girls served her and we put our best defender, Alia (Hassett) down the line," coach Ah-Hoy said. "We set our blockers to take the angle away."
Sophomore Briana Amian added seven kills, eight digs and two blocks. No other Menehune had more than two kills.
"Our game plan, the girls executed really well," Ah-Hoy added.
Moanalua coach Thomas Lake is looking forward to getting back in the gym for practice.
"Kahuku played pretty solid, but it's so hard to tell," he said. "Our defensive errors compounded everything.
"We have no block, so our defense has to be there. We missed lots of serves at critical times."
Moanalua had five service errors in all.
Kahuku broke a stalemate with a 4-0 run, including two blocks by Leeann Mapu, to take a 15-11 lead. The Lady Raiders extended it to 20-13 en route to a victory in Game 1.
Ah-Hoy had just three kills in the opening game, but had two service aces.
In Game 2, the score was knotted at 10 when Kahuku again made a 4-0 run to open up an advantage. Moanalua pulled within 17-15, but three errors helped the Lady Raiders stay ahead.
Leading 21-17, Kahuku put the game away on a 4-0 run.
With another OIA championship in hand, the Lady Raiders can rest ... sort of. Ah-Hoy, the player, was happy to learn that Ah-Hoy, the coach, has called for a light practice today.
"Cool. Now we can go to the football game," said Camilla Ah-Hoy, referring to Kahuku's matchup with Leilehua in the OIA semifinals at Aloha Stadium. "I want to thank the football boys for coming to our game."
Five buses carrying 250 students and fans came to McKinley from Kahuku for the volleyball match.
