The Red Raiders (13-1) will receive the league's top seed and a first-round bye in next week's state tournament on Maui. Moanalua (12-2) will start the state tournament with first-round action on Wednesday.

Kahuku's fans gave their beloved Red Raiders a resounding sendoff last night at McKinley's Student Council Gym: stomping, singing and cheering in unison from opening serve to aloha ball. They made up less than half of the estimated crowd of about 1,600, but easily dominated the noise meter.

"It definitely pumped us up," said Kahuku junior Camilla Ah-Hoy, who led a balanced effort with nine kills, two blocks and two aces. "Yesterday, our athletic director (Joe Whitford) told my mom (coach Mona Ah-Hoy) he ordered five buses for our game, and everybody showed up — the JV and varsity football teams, the soccer team, the cheerleaders ... It helped us."

Not that the Red Raiders were lacking the tools to win. After the teams traded points to tie the first game at 11, Kahuku took control with a 9-2 run.

Leeann Mapu had two blocks and an ace during the surge. The Menehunes closed to 22-18 on a block by Bri Amian, but a service error, net violation and hitting error stalled any hope for a comeback victory.

"Obviously, we didn't play to our potential and it seemed like something was missing," said Moanalua outside hitter Danie Hout, who was held to four kills. "But I think Kahuku has the best offense in the state. They're really physical and tough to handle. They run a 6-2 offense so they have three hitters coming at you at once, and you never know who is going to get the ball."

Moanalua trailed 19-16 late in the second game, but Ane Vea had two kills and Ah-Hoy got a block to key a finishing 6-1 run.

"Our seniors are great leaders and they were pushing us the whole week," Ah-Hoy said. "Aisha (Ale) said, 'We gotta want it,' and that made us all hyped."