Castle's Kawika Benevedes put down 5 kills and added 7 blocks in a four set win over Pearl City to win the OIA Division II title. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Castle won its third overall Oahu Interscholastic Association title with a 25-15, 15-25, 26-24, 25-20 win over Pearl City in the league's Division II title game at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium Thursday evening.

"I feel great because I think we've come a long way from the beginning of the season," said 32-year Castle coach Pat Gomes-Woolsey. "We're still struggling with our passes, but at least we have a lineup that works fairly well. It's unconventional, but I have to do it according to the players that I have. I think from the point from when they started to now, they improved 100-percent."

Jack Andrade, a 6-foot-3 junior middle blocker, had 17 kills and 12 digs and two solo blocks to lead the Knights. Outside hitter Kekoa Pili-Rumosod had a similar stat line, finishing with 12 kills and 17 digs. Setters Blaine Ohama and Keawe Saizon finished with 29 total assists.

With Andrade, Kawika Benevedes and Clay Mitchell patrolling the net, Castle was able to neutralize Pearl Ciity's attack. The Knights finished four solo blocks and 18 block assists.

"Our game plan was to go to the middle, but our middles weren't really connecting so that left a lot of two man blocks on the outside so we were having a hard time with the bigger block," said Pearl City coach Brennan Velasco. "I guess all the teams we faced so far didn't have that kind of size in the middle, and that was kind of hurting us a little bit."

Garette Kanamu led the Chargers in the loss, racking up a match-high 21 kills with a block and an ace. Setter Tyler Canon had 36 assists for Pearl City.

Castle won the first set with relative ease, winning 25-15.

"I think it was just nerves honestly," said Velasco. "I don't think we've been to the OIA championship since 2002 so the guys weren't used to this kind of environment."

The second set was a reversal of fortune with Pearl City flipping the score, 25-15 to even things up.

"I think we just lost communication and some of our teammates got a little bit nervous," said Andrade.

Pearl City had the early advantage in the third set, leading by as many as seven points, 15-8. The Chargers maintain their lead until the score was 22-18. From there the Knights were able to go on a 6-0 run to make it 24-22 in their favor. Pearl City scored two straight to force extras, but a service error and an Andrade kill off an over pass gave the set to Castle.

"I think what it was we got complacent," said Velasco. "We thought we had them and then we stopped working hard. They got the momentum back and they got the energy. Once that happened it's kind of hard to stop."

The fourth and final set was a competitive battle until the game was knotted up at 20 apiece. After a Castle timeout, the Knights went on to score five straight points to win the match.

It is worth noting that Pearl City's Pjay Solomon suffered a tragic injury after falling on his forearm while diving for a loose ball on the play following the final timeout.

"I think everybody was deflated after that, after seeing him go down," said Velasco. "Our thoughts were on top of him of course, but tough loss. Great win for Castle."