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Castle got a key road win over Kaiser, winning in four sets, 25-14, 27-25, 25-27, 25-19, to remain just a game back of first in the win-loss column in the OIA East standings.

"This was for I believe, second place so we knocked them down," said Cody Pili-Rumusod of the win over the Cougars. 

Pili-Rumusod ran the Knights' offense efficiently, to the tune of 35 assists, but also contributed with nine kills, second on the team. Aukanalii Arcala had 19 kills to lead all attackers, but five other Knights recorded at least two kills, and Malae Tini's only swing of the game was the game-winner.

"We've built that trust, starting our freshman year," said Pili-Rumusod. "I've played with these guys football, basketball, baseball, so I know these guys really well. Our bond is the thing that gets through."

Service errors and miscues in serve-recieve ultimately doomed the Cougars in the first set, but the home team rebounded nicely in set two, where it held the lead for much of the set, until a Pili-Rumusod kill tied the match up at 22-all. 

From there, the lead see-sawed back and forth until an Arcala kill pulled Castle even once again, and the Knights took the lead on a Hyden Broadbent ace, the sixth in the match to that point for the Knights, bringing up set point at 26-all.

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"We're not trying to serve tough though, we just try to keep it in (play)," remarked Pili-Rumusod. "Coach tells us we don't really want to go for aces, as long as we keep it in we can play the ball.

On the ensuing point, Kekoa Tani and Nai Kalauokaaea turned back the Cougars' attack to give the Knights the set and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Set three saw Castle lead early on, but Kaiser took control midway through and built a 13-9 lead before Castle rallied with a 5-1 spurt to things up at 14-all.

The Cougars went up a pair on a Will Reynolds kill at 21-19, but the Knights tied things right back up after an Arcala-Broadbent block and a Kalauokaaea kill.

Castle looked poised to close things out in third up 24-22, but three quick points by the home team put Kaiser up 25-24. From there, a Tani kill tied the score, but a Cobe Kawakami put down a kill at 26-all to give the Cougars set three.

It was all Knights in set four, as they pulled away for good 9-all with 5-1 spurt that forced a time out, and then a 6-3 scoring advantage right after the first time out that forced a second.

Kaiser staged a mini rally to pull within 21-17, but the Knights eventually got to match point at 24-17, and put an end to the match two points later on Tini's lone kill.

With five games remaining on the schedule, the Knights only have one more Division I opponent in McKinley left on the slate, though Division II leader Kailua, is up next, but the prospects of securing at least second place in the East looks promising.

The path for Kaiser, not so much. Games on the slate for the Cougars include a road game against Kahuku on April 4 before hosting Moanalua five days later.