Mililani outlasts Kahuku in four set thriller


Spencer Honda | SL

Mililani is returning to the OIA Division I title game, but it certainly didn't come easy.

The West top seed went up 2-0 early, then got all it could handle from East second seed Kahuku in a four set slugfest, 25-22, 25-17, 16-25, 25-23.

With the match looking all but destined for a fifth set with Kahuku up 20-14 in the fourth, Mililani dug deep, putting together a huge rally to get back in it.

In a key stretch, Emma Berry put down a three key kills in the middle and Jaelyn Tang added an ace to trim the margin down to just two points.

The lead remained two for the Red Raiders at 22-20, but from that point on it was the Falanika Danielson show.

Danielson, who poured in a game high 24 kills to lead the Trojans offensively, got the call on basically every set down the stretch for the Trojans, and made good on just about all of them, scoring the last five points to notch the win.

Berry added eight kills and a block and Aysia Miller five kills and 32 assists for Mililani.

On the other side of the net, Savannah Taosoga put down 17 kills and Mapu nine kills and three blocks for the Red Raiders, and Keau Kamakeeaina had a match high 43 assists and four blocks.