Four years after ruling over O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls volleyball, Roosevelt is back on the trail to prominence.

The Rough Riders swept Leilehua, 25-12, 25-14, 25-12, last night to win the OIA White Conference title at McKinley's Student Council Gym. Roosevelt completed league play at 14-1 and earned the OIA's top seed and first-round bye at next week's Division II state tournament.

Leilehua (11-4) will begin state tournament play in Wednesday's first round.

"It feels good, like we're starting off on the right foot going into states," said Roosevelt senior outside hitter Zoe Young, who finished with 10 kills, four digs and four aces last night. "We're happy to be an OIA champ, it doesn't matter if it's Red, White, Yellow ..."

The Rough Riders certainly played like champions from start to finish, taking the lead for good in the first set at 11-10 on Alida Holt's kill and scoring nine straight points behind the serving of Rachel Ringor to surge ahead, 23-11.

They jumped to a 4-1 lead in Game 2 and never looked back, then took the lead for good at 4-3 in the third set and pulled away quickly.

Lehuanani Kawai Oleole added 10 kills, eight assists, five digs and three aces, Holt had five kills and three blocks, and Ringor contributed seven digs and four aces.

"They made a statement tonight, it was a good finish for them," said Roosevelt first-year coach Pedro Velasco III. "This was a good way to show what we've got."

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