Kapolei outlasts Kahuku to reach first OIA D1 final since 2017

Brian Bautista | SL

Tenth ranked Kapolei gutted out a five-set win over sixth ranked Kahuku in the OIA semifinals to reach its first league final since 2017.

The set scores were 18-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, and 15-4.

Leila Paraoan had a team-high 20 kills and added 12 digs for the Hurricanes, who also got a triple-double performance from Anny Scott (10 kills, 23 assists, 16 digs) and an 11 total block night for Amber Lee McLouth.

Kapolei had a seven point lead in the fourth set and seemed poised to force a fifth set, when Kahuku stormed back before ultimately losing the set 25-23.

In the deciding fifth the Hurricanes left no doubt, scoring the first seven points en route to an easy 15-4 win.

Both teams were nearly identical statisically,with Kahuku ahead in total kills (46 to 45), assists (45 to 42) and digs (83 to 82), and Kapolei leading in total blocks (22 to 20), aces (7 to 6) and hitting percentage (0.094 to 0.046).

Chalei Reid had a game-high 22 kills and Tilau Tonga led all players with 27 assists.

In the first semifinal of the night, East top seed Moanalua swept past Kalaheo, 25-21, 25-14, 25-17, to return to the OIA Division I championship match.

Jerney Tang-Silva had 10 kills and 11 digs to pace a balanced Na Menehune attack that had four players with at least seven kills. Kalia Kalama-Bajet had a match leading 15 assists and just missed double figures in kills (9) and digs (8).

Chloe Fukumitsu and Zaria Queen chipped in eight and seven kills respectively.

All four teams will represent the OIA in next week's HHSAA Division I state tournament. The final league representative will be decided Tuesday, with the winner of Nanakuli-Mililani securing the league's fifth berth.