Menes fend off Red Raiders in OIA East action

Moanalua freshman OH Tayli Ikenaga puts down a kill attempt against Kahuku. Pete Caldwell | SL

Kahuku gave eighth-ranked Moanalua its biggest test of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division season as Na Menehune needed three sets to take out the visiting Red Raiders Tuesday night.

Moanalua fell behind early trailing 12-7 in the first set before rallying to prevail 25-22. In game 2, once again Kahuku jumped out early but this time did not allow Na Menehune to come back winning 25-17. It was the first set that Moanalua dropped this season.

Na Menehune led early in the deciding set 4-3 and took control late to pull away for a 15-7 margin.

Moanalua improved to 7-0 with the victory while Kahuku, the defending OIA D1 champ, dropped to 3-3.

"It was a good win," said Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting. "The girls played tough. When Kahuku got the second set, they recovered mentally and got right back into it. It was a big improvement over the last match with Kailua. We were more disciplined in what we wanted to do. In the third set, our blockers got out further to the pins, and then their hitting errors started to come."

Moanalua travels to Kalani (6-1) on Thursday while the Red Raiders host Anuenue (1-6).