There might be all sorts of reasons to believe Moanalua is destined to win the OIA boys volleyball championship for the seventh time in eight seasons.
After all, Na Menehune were smooth as silk in a 25-18, 25-21, 25-15 sweep of Leilehua in the semifinals on Monday night at muggy James Alegre Gymnasium. What Moanalua (12-1) hasn’t seen in quite some time, however, is a 1-2 punch that Kalaheo brings.
The Mustangs (12-1) were dominant against Castle in the other semifinal, getting 19 kills from Liam York and 17 from Tyler Wemple in a 29-27, 25-20, 25-22 sweep of Castle. Kalaheo had occasional issues, but getting clean looks and good sets from Reggaen Eugenio (42 assists) was not one of them.
“Our serve-receive could’ve been better. We made some stupid mistakes,” said Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni, who guided the Mustangs to their only OIA D-I title in 2005. “It’s going to be a fight for both sides.”
York was a flame-thrower from every angle, and even as Castle kept the ball in play over and over, he kept bringing heat, as did Wemple. Now Kalaheo will face a Moanalua defense that is as air-tight as any, with “overall ball control that is second to none,” according to Leoni.
“Anything goes on Wednesday,” said York, who will play at Springfield College (Mass.) next season. “We’ll have to play our best and peak at the right time.”
The Mustangs got consistent play from middle Anthony Caswell (three kills, two blocks) and Jordan Neufeldt (two kills).
Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting is expecting a different look. His team swept Kalaheo early in the regular season, but that was under different circumstances.”
“They are a much different team this time around. Liam is back (from injury) and they’re looking more confident because of it. It’s going to be a good battle,” Cabanting said.
OIA Playoffs
Updated: Apr. 24| DIVISION I | |||
| Date | Home | Visitor | Time/Result |
| First round | |||
| 4/17-G1 | Waipahu* (W4) | Farrington (E5) | Far 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 33-31 |
| 4/17-G2 | Kaiser (E3) | Waianae (W6) | Kais 25-20, 14-25, 30-28, 20-25, 15-10 |
| 4/17-G3 | Castle** (E4) | Radford (W5) | Cast 26-24, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21 |
| 4/17-G4 | Kapolei (W3) | Roosevelt (E6) | Kapo 25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19 |
| Quarterfinals | |||
| 4/18-G5 | Moanalua (E1) | Farrington | Moan 25-15, 25-22, 25-19 |
| 4/18-G6 | Leilehua*** (W2) | Kaiser | Lei 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-16 |
| 4/18-G7 | Mililani (W1) | Castle | Cast 21-25, 25-23, 24-26, 27-25, 15-13 |
| 4/18-G8 | Kalaheo**** (E2) | Kapolei | Kalh 23-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-20 |
| Consolation semis—@ Farrington | |||
| 4/22-G9 | Farrington | Kaiser | Far, 2-1 |
| 4/22-G10 | Mililani | Kapolei | Mil, 2-1 |
| Semifinals—@ Radford | |||
| 4/22-G11 | Moanalua | Leilehua | Moan 25-18, 25-21, 25-15 |
| 4/22-G12 | Castle | Kalaheo | Kalh 29-27, 25-20, 25-22 |
| Fifth place—@ Farrington | |||
| 4/23—G13 | Farrington | Mililani | Mil, 2-0 |
| Third place—@ Farrington | |||
| 4/23—G14 | Leilehua | Castle | Lei |
| Championship—@ Radford | |||
| 4/24—G15 | Moanalua | Kalaheo | Moan 25-19, 22-25, 26-24, 26-24 |
| DIVISION II | |||
| Quarterfinals—@ Nanakuli | |||
| 4/17—G1 | Nanakuli (W2) | Kailua (E3) | Nan 25-17, 25-8, 25-16 |
| 4/17—G2 | Kaimuki (E2) | Pearl City (W3) | PC 20-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 16-14 |
| Semifinals—@ Kahuku | |||
| 4/18—G3 | Kahuku (E1) | Nanakuli | Nan 23-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-23 |
| 4/18—G4 | Waialua (W1) | Pearl City | PC 19-25, 25-22, 25-1925-14 |
| Championship—@ Radford | |||
| 4/24—G5 | Nanakuli | Pearl City | PC 25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 25-17 |
| * — @ Kaiser | |||
| ** — @ Kapolei | |||
| *** — @ Moanalua | |||
| **** — @ Mililani | |||
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