OIA Girls Volleyball
Trojans deny Na Menehune in straight sets


  



Tue, Oct 18, 2016 @ McKinley [ 7:30 pm ]


FINAL  1   2   3   4   5      
MOA (11-4) 20 22 23 - - 0
MIL (12-2) 25 25 25 - - 3
Kill: E. Dulaney (MOA) 9 kills
Ast: H. Carter (MIL) 23 ast

The Oahu Interscholastic Association will have a new champion this year.

Mililani, the top-seeded team from the Western Division, swept two-time defending OIA Division I champion Moanalua, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-23, in the league semifinals Tuesday night at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.

"We knew they were going to be a tough team and we knew they were going to be scrappy and stuff so we had to dig deep within ourselves and believe in each other," said setter Hope Carter.

The Trojans (12-0) move on to take on Kahuku (13-0), the top-seeded team from the East, Thursday night in the OIA Division I title match. Mililani will be seeking its third league crown and first since 2013 when it takes on the Red Raiders.

Na Menehune (11-2) will take on Kapolei (10-2) for third place at Farrington Wednesday night.

Both teams made strong plays defensively to give themselves a chance, but ultimately experience helped the Trojans pull it off, said Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting.

"I think on our part, it's the youth that we have," he said. "The senior leadership that (the Trojans) had definitely showed when we started to come back and they were making plays."

The Mililani fans that showed up to the match also played a difference.

"They're a huge part of our success," said Carter. "They bring the energy and they help bring up our energy when we're down in the slumps and stuff. With their energy we can do anything."

Even though her team ended up sweeping the match, Mililani coach Val Crabbe was impressed by Moanalua's effort.

"They dig everything and the ball keeps coming back," Crabbe said of Na Menehune. "They're a great defensive team, a really good team. They're supposedly rebuilding, but they look really good."

Carter, the 2015 OIA West Player of the Year, had a double-double of 23 assists and 21 digs to go along with three aces and one block assist. She was also able to showcase her skills as an outside hitter when the Trojans utilize a 6-2 system with Rachel Glass, and finished with six kills.

"We put that in a few practice ago, sort of a last resort kind of thing," said Carter. "I guess coach Val wanted to give a new look and I guess it worked out for the better."

Crabbe added that the move also would help Carter get a breather from chasing passes after the first touch.

"I felt it might give her some time to rest on the front, because she was scrambling a lot and the rallies were long," she said. "If I boosted that, I might be able to give (Hope) some kind of rest there so to speak as an outside hitter."

Utilizing Carter as a hitter also helped the Trojans manage a few injuries. Senior outside hitter Ashley Pawlak, who was nursing a foot injury, was able to get a long break during the most of the second and third set while sophomore Starr Sergent was playing in her first game back since recovering from an ankle sprain.

Pawlak, Carter and freshman Falanika Danielson led the Trojans' attack with six kills apiece. Sergent followed with five kills and Katie Asbery and Aysia Miller each chipped in three more. Ava Moniz and Gabby Naniseni also added kills for Mililani.

Emily Dulaney led Na Menehune in the loss with a match-high nine kills.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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