Pearl City outlasts Kapolei to claim first OIA D2 crown since 2022

Pearl City’s Marley Ngirmidol, center, hoists the league plaque after the Chargers defeated Kapolei in five sets in the OIA Division II boys volleyball championship at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium, CJ Caraang | SL

Chargers back on top.

After a three year hiatus, Pearl City grinded out a five set win over Kapolei to claim its 14th overall league title. The set scores were 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 11-25 and 19-17.

Josiah Talamoa had a team-high 27 kills and Reven Otsuka added 13 more to lead the Chargers, who were actually bested statisically by the 'Canes in nearly even category, but willed their way through the match.

"Ever since that loss against Radford (in the OIA D2 title game) we told each other that this, this next season, it was all us," said Talamoa.

Set five saw Pearl City lead 13-8 on an Otsuka kill, but Kapolei responded with a four huge points in succession to make things a little more than interesting. The Chargers got to match point on a Talamoa kill at 14-12, but the Hurricanes rattled off a pair of points to get to deuce, as Noheakaimana Bogard slammed down a pair of points from the left side.

Austin Sou's kill at 16-15 put Kapolei in a position to win the match, but Talamoa's 27th kil of the night forced the game back to deuce. and Otsuka's attack on the following point dropped for the third chance at the match for the Chargers.

Deuce was forced once again at 17-all, but a pair of Otsuka kills finally put an end to a barnburner of a match, and the celebration on the Chargers' side of the net ensued.

The three year journey to a league title for both Reven Otsuka and setter Marley Ngirmidol started with a 0-10 campaign as a freshman.

"Going 0 for 10 to 10-0 it's like really something to us and we couldn't have done it without this program, Sean (Chang), our other coaches, everyone," said Otsuka.

Kapolei, who was looking for their first ever league title in boys volleyball, got a match leading 29 kills from Bogard and Matahi Makepa also reached double digits kills with 12. The Hurricanes outblocked the Chargers 18 to 11, and six Kapolei players had at least two combined blocks, led by Viialeatua Patu with five.

Setter Austin Sou had 54 assists for Kapolei and Ngirmidol had 41 for Pearl City.

Both teams will represent the OIA in the upcoming HHSAA Division II Boys Volleyball Championships.