Mililani's Andrew Valladares holds up the OIA championship plaque as the Trojans captured their first league title since 1994. CJ Caraang | SL

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ALIAMANU — Moanalua's title streak came to an end on Thursday night.

Mililani outlasted six-time defending champion Moanalua in a five set thriller, 25-19, 25-22, 18-25, 20-25, 15-10 to win its first Oahu Interscholastic Association volleyball title since 1994 at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium.

"It showed that volleyball is a game of momentum. It can go one way one half, another way in the second and another way. It was a battle. Hats off to Moanalua, they are an amazing team with history," said first-year Mililani coach Trenton Niino.

"It feels good to take down the defending champs. We're the new reigning champs," said Mililani setter Chance Guillermo.

The win caps an undefeated OIA season for the Trojans (13-0) before heading to the state tournament, while the Na Menehune (13-1) suffered their first defeat of the season.

"As soon as we're done and we lost, the boys said they were ready for states. We appreciate the loss and will learn from it, but we're ready for next week," said acting Moanalua head coach Austin Zavala, who is filling in for Alan Cabanting while he is away tending to a family matter.

Nalu Demello tied the score at seven, but the Trojans took advantage of Moanalua errors to lead, 11-8. Nathaniel Johnson and Andrew Valladares had timely blocks to go up, 14-8, before Duncan Clark and Demello placed kills for Moanalua. Kalai Leopoldo's attack sailed out of bounds as Mililani celebrated.

"I asked the boys, ‘How bad to do you want it? How hard will you fight for it?' They came out and showed it and played their hearts out," said Niino, during the fifth set stretch.

"I'm proud of the team. I'm proud of the boys the way they came out and never once doubted themselves. They played as hard as they could. That's all I could ask for," said Zavala.

The one-two punch combo of Johnson (17 kills) and Sila Fuiava (16 kills) kept the Na Menehune off balanced at times.

"This is an amazing group. It was a progression and they are peaking at the time they need to," said Niino.

"It's a blessing. I have many options and I have to spread out the ball evenly to my hitters," said Guillermo.

Guillermo gave his teammates "chances" to finish with 40 assists.

"That was the game plan. We worked hard on that in practice where he had to distribute the ball to all the hitters and he did a great job," said Niino on Guillermo.

Each team traded points early on, but Moanalua trailed by four throughout the set until the Trojans pulled away to take the first set, 25-19. This was the first time the Na Menehune dropped a set this season.

The Na Menehune took an early lead in the second set until Mililani rallied to reclaim the lead, 13-12 and Moanalua called a timeout. The Trojans created a four-point cushion and went up, 22-16 after mental errors by the Na Menehune. Moanalua mounted a comeback and trailed, 22-21 forcing Mililani to call a timeout. The Trojans responded to close out the set with a 3-1 run to go up two sets to none.

"For some this is their first time since a lot of them were on the bench last year. It could have been a little bit of jitters, but they've seen it before, but adjustments have to be made faster," said Zavala.

With their backs against the wall, Moanalua took a 13-9 lead. Demello and Clark led the charge to find openings for kills as the Na Menehune pushed the lead to 17-10 and held onto a 21-14 lead to take set three.

"Making those simple mistakes, they have to clean it up and were able to do it in the third and fourth set," said Zavala.

"I knew they were going to come back stronger because they didn't want to get swept by us. We tried to fight hard, but they were the better team in that set," said Guillermo.

Moanalua had three players with double-digit kill totals: Demello with 17, Leopoldo (15), and Clark (13) and benefited from Zackary Miyamoto's 51 assists.

There were seven ties throughout the fourth set. Moanalua would find a way to go up two, but the Trojans managed to tie the game. Leopoldo accounted for a kill and two aces to put the Na Menehune up, 21-18 forcing a Trojan timeout. It was all Moanalua down the stretch to force the fifth and decisive set.

"I said in the timeout that they (Moanalua) is going to come back strong. You have to be prepared for that and they did, Moanalua came back strong," said Niino.