Mililani returns to championship game for first time since 2019 with sweep of Kapolei

Peter Caldwell | SL

For the first time since 2019, Mililani is heading back to the championship match of the OIA Division I girls volleyball playoffs.

The Trojans coasted to 25-13 and 25-13 wins in the opening two sets before grinding out a 25-23 win in the third to earn a sweep of the Hurricanes.

Alexis Rodriguez had 16 kills and Erica Roberts added 10 more for Mililani, but the deciding factor in the match was the blocking and service game, where the Trojans both outblocked the Hurricanes 10-2 and racked up seven aces to none for Kapolei.

Set three was a battle, with 13 ties and nine lead changes that came to a head with the score tied at 22-all, as the Trojans strung together a pair of points off of kills by Journey DePonte and Rodriguez to get to match point.

Kapolei got a point back on a double contact called on an attack at the net by Mililani, but that was as close as the Hurricanes got, as a net violation was called on an attack by DePonte to end it.

Anae Asuncion did it all for the Trojans, dishing up 36 assists to go along with two kills, three blocks, five digs and an ace. Polaris De Mont also came up big in the middle, with five kills and five total blocks, and Paige Paaluhi chipped in 10 digs to go along with four kills.

Up next for Mililani is East top seed and defending league champ Kahuku, who swept past Farrington in the first semifinal.