The Falcons won 25-22, 25-19 to advance to Thursday's title match against Moanalua, a 23-25, 25-17, 15-12 winner over Roosevelt. The championship match is set for about 6 p.m. at McKinley; Kahuku will play Roosevelt for third place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, also at McKinley.

Kahuku, the defending state champion, failed to win the OIA Eastern Division title in 2001 and 2002 but powered its way through the competition in the league playoffs. The Red Raiders (11-3) displayed the same kind of force yesterday, but Kalani (13-0) withstood it with endless digs and saves.

"They came out tough and they fought their hardest," said Falcons junior Tamari Miyashiro, who finished with a match-high 11 kills. "Against them, you just gotta play fearless. Today was not so much about offense, but more about defense. That's what starts the plays, so defense is what we've been practicing."

The teams traded points for most of the first game, and Kahuku led 22-21 before Kalani went on a 4-0 run to win it. The final point came on Miyashiro's perfectly placed back-row spike into an open space in the middle of the Red Raiders' court.

"In the first game, we didn't establish our big hitters," Kahuku coach Mona Ah Hoy said. "When you got big hitters, you gotta establish that road."

The second game started out tight as well, knotted at 10-10. But Miyashiro and Melia Iwamoto led the Falcons on a 9-2 run and they proceeded to sideout the rest of the way to victory.

"Kahuku's got the height and the bangers, so just tried to cover the court a little more and kind of take them out of their offense," Kalani coach Aven Lee said. "I'm glad we were patient and didn't just try to swing with them. We just stayed with it and kinda tired them out. But (the Red Raiders) are the state champs and they already had that feeling, so they really want that feeling again. They played with a lot of heart."

Ah Hoy said in the two previous years, Kahuku was able to rebound from regular-season defeats and peak during the OIA playoffs. But she said that hasn't happened with this team.

"Even (in playoff matches) against Leilehua and 'Aiea, we came out slow," Ah Hoy said. "Our seniors are the same girls who were on the past two championship teams, so they should know how to win. But we just haven't peaked yet."

• Moanalua wins: A clerical error turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Menehunes (12-1).

After Roosevelt (10-4) won the first game, Moanalua's Danie Hout was supposed to serve to open the second game. But a mistake on the lineup card forced Kepua Lee to serve first instead of last.

"Me and Danie are on opposite sides, but my coach wrote it down wrong on the paper," said Lee, who ended up serving 10 straight points. "I didn't use my jump serve because I didn't have my rhythm today. So I just went back to basics and worked it through."

The 10-0 lead spurred the Menehunes to a 25-17 victory to tie the match, then Moanalua's Resina Nataniela served five straight points in the third game to break an 8-8 tie.

Roosevelt closed it to 13-12, but Lee got a kill and the match ended on a Rough Riders error.

OIA BOYS

• Kahuku, Mililani advance: Mililani (12-0) and Kahuku (10-1) will play for the championship after victories yesterday at Farrington gym.

Kahuku defeated Campbell 25-23, 25-14, and Mililani stopped Kalaheo 20-25, 30-28, 15-12.

The Red Raiders will play the Trojans for the title at 5 p.m. on Thursday at McKinley gym.

Kalaheo (9-2) and Campbell (10-2) play for third place at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at McKinley.