The Moanalua girls volleyball team celebrates after defeating Kapolei in five sets. Michael Lasquero | SL

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_23103131_GVB-10.30.23-KAPvsMOA-5723.jpg - Michael Lasquero | SL

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It was a risk that ultimately paid off in the end.

Malu Garcia put down 19 kills and Zaria Queen added 12 more as Moanalua squeaked past Kapolei in five sets in an OIA Division I semifinal match at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium Monday night. Set scores were 24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22 and 15-7.

Garcia also added two aces during a 6-0 run in the fifth set that helped Na Menehune (12-0) take a commanding 10-3 lead in the final stanza.

But she was a notable non-participant during the opening set.

"We just kind of wanted to see what we can do without Malu," said Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting. "This whole squad was constantly depending on Malu, so when we took her out, you just got to depend on yourself."

The move was successful for the most part in the first frame as Na Menehune jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 8-4 before taking a 24-19 lead after a Jerney Tang-Silva kill off the bump set of libero Natalie Fukumoto. But Kapolei's Malinah Purcell-Telefonoi put down five of her match-high 20 kills in a 7-0 run to turn back Moanalua for the early set advantage.

"I think we were strong enough to be able to take care of the things we needed to take care of. Unfortunately it was one of those where you need Malu's senior leadership to end things," said Cabanting.

To Cabanting's credit however, a rested-Garcia did take it to another level in the final set with four kills and two aces in the frame.

"She was the one that was rested for a whole set and had the most energy going into that fifth set, that's kind of what I was trying to bag on," Cabanting said of Garcia, who hit .312 for the match.

Queen was also a consistent force for Na Menehune with 12 kills and five total blocks (one solo). Cabanting knew Queen had the physical tools at the start of the year, but it was a work in progress until now.

"This game she put it all together, she was in it all the way through," Cabanting said. "She really came on emerging, really helping us tonight."

Jerney Tang-Silva chipped in eight kills, Kaelyn Flores and Anya Gant each had seven kills and Iana Benevides came on strong in the final two sets to finish with five kills.