Moanalua topples Roosevelt

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The meat of the schedule is upon girls volleyball contenders in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division, where unbeaten teams are being put to the test.

Hout

Moanalua (5-0) has no time to celebrate, however, as Kahuku (6-0) visits tomorrow at 6 p.m.

The winner will be the last unbeaten team in the East, from where all four of the OIA's state tournament representatives came last year.

"We're ready, we're pretty psyched," said Moanalua senior co-captain Danie Hout, a 2003 Advertiser All-State first-team outside hitter. "We'll need all our skills against Kahuku, and we still have things to work on. But our mentality is there."

It certainly was there last night as the Menehunes pulled away from a 9-9 tie in the first game to take an 18-10 lead, then jumped to a 6-1 lead in the second game and never trailed.

Moanalua's ability to stifle any threat by Roosevelt (5-1) was impressive considering Hout (seven kills, one ace, one block) did not have her best match.

Sophomore Briana Amian added seven kills, two blocks and an ace, and classmate Melanie Manutai added two kills.

"Moanalua is very stable, very steady, very disciplined," Roosevelt coach Bryan Camello said.

The Menehunes lost 11 seniors — including five starters — from last year's team that finished second in the OIA and fourth in the state tournament.

"It was hard and kind of scary losing all those seniors, because we depended on them for leadership," Hout said. "But we know we can have faith in this team, and it hasn't been a big issue."

Senior Lena Yee has made a smooth move from defensive specialist to setter, and Moanalua coach Tommy Lake said senior co-captain Na'a Iaela has helped with leadership.

"She's our sparkplug, she pumps up everybody in practices and games," Lake said. "We have a really good bench, too. I'm really happy with the girls' ability to adjust."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.