Moanalua's Arendia Ruiter puts down a kill attempt past the McKinley block. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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091713_MoaMcK_gvb_0185.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Led by a nine-kill effort from Silerolia Gaogao, Moanalua made quick work of McKinley Tuesday night in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division girls volleyball game.

An intimate gathering of 100 or so fans at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium saw Na Menehune improve to 7-0 with a 25-14, 25-12 sweep over the Tigers, who fell to 1-6 on the year.

"It was a good win for us tonight, we're still trying to piece things together, but it was a step in the right direction," Moanalua coach Tommy Lake said. "We did some things well and a few of our players stepped up since we were without one of our starters."

Starting libero Joy Kurosawa was out for the game due to a concussion she suffered in a previous game. In her absence, Lyndsey Ng filled in at libero.

"Lindsey did a good job at libero filling in for Joy," Lake said. "She's normally our defensive specialist, so it was an easy transition for her."

McKinley jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but Moanalua pulled even at 8-all on Daisge Smith kill and took its first lead of the match on an ensuing McKinley net violation. Na Menehune used a 5-1 run to turn an 11-all tie to a 16-12 lead and separated further with a 9-1 run to close out the opening set, 25-14.

"I think the JV game ran a little long, the energy of the girls were down a little bit in game one, but they improved as the set went on and finished strong," Lake said.

Game two started much like how game one did — with the Tigers taking an early 4-1 lead. Lake called a quick timeout — the only one he called all night — at that point and his team responded with an 11-1 run to seize a 12-5 advantage.

"I think they just needed to settle down a little bit and refocus," Lake said of the slow start. "Once they did, they did a good job keeping the pressure on and finishing."

Moanalua extended its lead to 21-10 by the time McKinley called its second timeout of the set and reached match point after back-to-back kills by Gaogao before Erin Fujitani wrapped up the sweep with an ace.

Gaogao had five of her team's 11 kills in game two and also recorded a pair of service aces in game one. Na Menehune committed just 16 errors for the match to McKinley's 22.

"She's been doing for us all season," Lake said of Gaogao, a 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter. "We don't want to have to rely on her too much, but at the same time, our setters know what she can do when she's given the opportunity."

Moanalua is tied atop the Eastern Division standings with Kahuku, which is also 7-0 after its straight-set victory over Kailua Tuesday.

Na Menehune, which has yet to drop a set this season, hosts Kaiser Thursday while the Tigers host Kaimuki that same evening.