Moanalua's Nalu Demello rifles down a kill against Waianae in a straight set victory. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Moanalua's Nalu Demello rifles down a kill against Waianae in a straight set victory. Peter Caldwell | SL

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SALT LAKE — Moanalua commanded the first two sets before holding off Waianae's third set comeback to win 25-18, 25-17, 25-21 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals on their home court on Thursday night.

The East division's top-seeded Na Menehune advance to the semifinals to play the West's second-seeded Kapolei (10-1) at Radford at 5:30 pm. Waianae drops to play Roosevelt at Farrington on the same day.

Three Na Menehune players recorded double-figure kill totals thanks to the passing of Zackary Miyamoto, who finished with 31 assists. Kalai Leopoldo had 11 kills while Duncan Clark and Nalu Demello added 10 each.

Moanalua shook out of an early funk as an energetic Waianae squad came at them from every angle. After the game was tied at 16, the Na Menehune found momentum to close out the set on a 9-2 run.

The Na Menehune started pulling away from the Seariders in the second set and maintained a seven-point cushion before winning, 25-17.

Aside from two Searider leads to start the third set, it was all Moanalua until Waianae mounted a spirited comeback. The Seariders who trailed by as much as seven and whittled it down to one, 19-18 after Blaze Kahikina's kill, who led the Seariders with 12 for the game. The Na Menehune created some separation, but Waianae came back after Moanalua attack errors. However, back-to-back kills by Nalu Demello wrapped up the match.