Moanalua, Mililani ready for rematch for OIA boys volleyball championship

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The Moanalua boys volleyball team has an opportunity to extend the gap between itself and the rest of the Oahu interscholastic Association on Wednesday night, but a familiar foe is bearing down.

Na Menehune earned their way back into the OIA Division I championship match Monday night with a 25-12, 25-20, 25-14 sweep of Campbell at Radford’s James Alegre Gymnasium. Alan Cabanting’s squad will take on Mililani, which dispatched Castle in three tighter sets, 25-22, 26-24, 25-21 in the other semifinal.

All three of the league’s post-COVID championship matches in the sport have been contested by Mililani (12-0) and Moanalua (13-0).

Against Castle, Tyler Duranceau and Aris Mateo registered 18 kills apiece for Mililani while the rest of the Trojans combined for 13.

For Moanalua, Ezekiel Sablan put down 11 kills and D’Angelo Ross 10 against Campbell. Sablan had two solo blocks. Setter Malu Wilcox had 29 assists, eight digs and an ace.

Moanalua has won 10 of the last 11 OIA D-I titles – nine of them under Cabanting. The exception was Mililani in 2017 under Trent Niino.

Wednesday’s winner will receive the OIA’s seeded berth in the upcoming state tournament, joining Interscholastic League of Honolulu winner Punahou as teams with first-round byes. The Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Maui Interscholastic League will also contest their league finals on Wednesday night.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.