Kalani Takase | ScoringLive
October 21, 2015, 2:59am
Kahuku overwhelms Mililani to reach OIA final
CJ Caraang | SLCarey Williams had 11 kills and Cheyenne Teo added nine as Kahuku swept past Mililani 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium Tuesday night.
The Red Raiders won their fifth straight match to improve to 12-1 on the year and advanced to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I girls volleyball championship match.
Not only was it the Trojans' first loss of the year, they had dropped just one set all season.
"I wouldn't say I was surprised; I actually expect that every time, but you know, it differs every game," Kahuku first-year coach Mounia Nihipali said. "It's up to the girls whether they want to do it or not, but I'm just happy that they found it. They figured it out and hopefully they bring it to the next game."
Kahuku will get a rematch against defending league champion Moanalua in Thursday's title match. Moanalua swept the regular-season meeting on Sept. 28.
Williams and Teo, both junior outside hitters, each had a block, Jamine Niutupuivaha added six kills, two blocks and an ace and Jaclyn Ah You and Laken Teo had two aces apiece for Kahuku.
Eight different players recorded a kill for the Red Raiders, who committed just nine hitting errors to the Trojans' 15.
That type of offensive set distribution is music to Nihipali's ears.
"That's what I kind of expect actually just because we do have a lot different types of players," Nihipali said. "You can have your heavy hitters, your smart hitters. I'm just happy thatI have all this variety and different types of players that bring a lot to my team."
Kahuku overcame slow starts to all three games and benefitted from its distinct height advantage, notably at the net.
"We actually did work a lot on blocking just because we've got to take care more on the outsides," Nihipali said. "There's big hitters as we go along in this whole playoffs so we have to make sure that we shut them down and take them out, but we do work a lot on blocking for sure."
Williams said the Red Raiders focused their efforts on blocking or altering the Trojans swings at the net.
"We really wanted to focus on pushing more in and not letting them use our hands," Williams said. "We just had to keep picking on them and pushing through."
Kahea Aea led Mililani with eight kills, three aces and a block. Katie Ashbery had six kills with two blocks and Ava Moniz added five kills for the Trojans, fell to 11-1 overall and will play Kalaheo for third place at Farrington Wednesday.
Kahuku will face defending league titlist and East top-seed Moanalua for the OIA title Thursday night at McKinley.
