Kaylee Ponce pounded 20 kills as sixth-ranked Moanalua rallied past Farrington 25-18, 16-25, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10 last night to stay alive in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs.

A raucous crowd of about 1,000 at Richard Kitamura Fieldhouse saw the home-team Governors nearly upset Na Menehune. Fenumiai Tofilau led Farrington (11-7) with 12 kills.

Farrington led the final set 4-1, but Moanalua regrouped during a timeout and took a 5-4 lead on a block by Latricia Taifane. The lead changed hands two more times before Ponce hit an ace for a 9-8 Moanalua lead. Taifane had three of her six blocks in the final set, and Carsen Mata closed it out with an ace on match point.

Moanalua, which has one loss in the double-elimination tourney, will face Kahuku tonight at McKinley. A Moanalua victory would force a winner-take-all match on Saturday.

Na Menehune opened the match on fire. Ponce was seemingly unstoppable, rarely facing blocks or simply leaping above them to collect seven kills in the first set for an easy Moanalua lead.

The Govs woke up in the second game with a 13-6 surge. Moanalua pulled within 13-11, but Farrington answered with seven points in a row, including an ace by Fraustina Sagapolu, and evened the match.

Moanalua, which hit .259 in the first set, struggled and hit .083 in the second and .121 in the third as Farrington seized momentum.

Desiree Klemin was clutch in the third set with two aces during a 7-1 run that gave the Govs a 24-17 lead en route to a 2-1 lead.

Moanalua trailed for most of the fourth set, but went on an 8-1 run at the close to even the match. Irene Mataele, recently called up from Moanalua's blue team, was pivotal with a block and a kill during the run.

Kailua 3, Castle 1

Sherie Recca pounded 13 kills and five aces as the Surfriders (14-2) outlasted the Knights 25-16, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21 in an elimination match and kept their White Conference championship hopes alive.

Recca was most formidable in the pivotal third set, when she pierced Castle's defense with four aces—all during an 8-1 run to close out the game.

Kailua's balanced attack was enough to fight off a team that had already fallen to the Surfriders twice during the regular season. Kayelynn Kohatsu (12 assists) and Nycole Masaki (22 assists) directed the offense. Kayzsa-Ann Konohia and Ashlin Akau each had 10 kills, and Teuila Afele added five.

Masaki finished with six kills.

“;They did an awesome job. We've got a lot of weapons from any place on the court,”; Kailua coach Mani Taufa'asau said.

Castle (12-5) had already clinched a berth in the Division II state tournament, but coach Brannan Bajet had high hopes for his team.

“;Kailua has always been a really strong team. Consistent and they've got size. I think they can beat Kapolei,”; Bajet said. “;But they're beatable.”;

The Surfriders will face unbeaten Kapolei today.