Moanalua's Jeslyn Spencer dug up a ball against Mililani in an OIA D1 semifinal match Monday night. Greg Yamamoto | SL

×

_17101712_MoanaluaMililani_6471.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

KAKAAKO — After a one-year absence, Moanalua is back in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I championship match.

Eighth-ranked Na Menehune made quick work of Mililani in a 25-19, 25-15, 25-16 semifinal win Monday night at McKinley's Student council Gymnasium to advance to their fourth league final in the past five years.

Moanalua (13-0) will meet No. 9 Kapolei (12-0) in the OIA D1 title match, which will be played about 30 minutes following the completion of the Division II final on Wednesday. Na Menehune, who lost to the Trojans in the 2016 semis, will be trying for their fifth OIA title and first since 2015 when they take on the Hurricanes.

For senior libero Hula Crisostomo, the road back to the OIA championship match has been a rewarding journey.

"I'm so hyped for this team because we've come from a long way," said Crisostomo, who had a match-high 32 digs. "Everyone was just bashing on us and I saw comments (online) saying that Moanalua can't ever pass those top teams. We proved ourselves and we're back in the OIA championship and I really want to take it. I just want to relive that moment with this team and I want to get that OIA championship."

Crisostomo, a four-year varsity player, was on the roster for Moanalua's championship wins in 2014 and 2015. Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting credits her leadership in this title run.

"She's not only leading by example this time around, (but) she was a lot vocal and is making sure that everybody sticks together as a team," Cabanting said of Crisostomo.

Moanalua has excelled in its serving and passing throughout the course of the season, but also got the power hitting going against the Trojans (10-2).

Jeslyn Spencer got the hot hand early, putting down five of her eight kills in the first set while middle Delylah Sanerivi added seven kills and three blocks to bolster Na Menehune's offense.

"We had to set her because she's our power," Moanalua senior Emily Dulaney said of Spencer. "She's really good and she really keeps the team up."

"We fed her as much as we can and she did some really good things for us," Cabanting added on Spencer.

On Sanerivi, Cabanting said: "for Delylah, especially in this last set, we were like ‘hey, we know you're getting tired. Everybody is thinking that we're not going to set you, but we are going to set you. We're going to set you so you're going to have to work to get behind the line, behind the 10 foot (line), and make sure you attack the ball.'

"She came back and she attacked and attacked and good things happened from there."

Still, Moanalua got contributions from its usual leaders. Dulaney had a near triple-double of 11 kills, 10 assists and nine digs while Ehnstrom added five kills with 18 assists and 13 digs. Freshman outside hitter chipped in four kills with 10 digs and Lamardia Utupo and Rainbeau Oliveira each had a kill.

"We're just so well rounded, which really helps us win these games," said Crisostomo.

Gabbi Naniseni had 10 kills and sophomore Falanika Danielson added seven kills and 17 digs to lead the Trojans in the loss.